A record 84.5% of consumers who acquired a new vehicle in thesecond quarter obtained either a loan or a lease to fund thepurchase, according to Experian Automotive.

That figure was at the highest level since Experian's Stateof the Automotive Finance Market Report began tracking thefigures in 2006, the Schaumburg, Ill.-based firm said.

The metric was up from 82.5% in the second quarter of 2012 andfrom 79.7% prior to the recession in the second quarter of2008.

Findings from the report showed that of all new vehiclesfinanced, leases accounted for an all-time high of 27.64% duringthe second quarter, up from 24.4% in Q2 2012.

“Obviously, this is good news for the auto industry, but it'salso good for consumers because this, combined with the reductionwe have seen in delinquencies, shows that they are feeling moreconfident in their ability to take on more debt and pay it off in atimely manner,” said Melinda Zabritski, senior director of automotive credit forExperian Automotive.

Meanwhile, subprime loans continue to gain market share, according toExperian. Nonprime, subprime and deep-subprime new vehicleloans increased to 27.45% market share in Q2 2013, up from 25.41%in Q2 2012.

For used vehicles, nonprime, subprime and deep-subprime loansaccounted for 57.31% market share in Q2 2013, up from 56.46% in Q22012.

In other Q2 2013 findings, Experian said the average amountfinanced was $26,526 for a new vehicle and $17,913 for used. Theaverage interest rate was 4.46% on a new vehicle loan and 8.56% forused.

The average loan term was 65 months for a new vehicle and 61months for used while the average monthly payment was $457 on a newvehicle and $351 for used.