The report also noted that those who have experience of installment payments were more likely to apply for car loans.

Hurdles

Despite the apparent increase in loan popularity, challenges remain, with complicated procedures regarded as the main problem.

The Volkswagen and Ipsos report found that from three main ways to get car loans, customers were more satisfied with credit cards than either commercial banks or automakers' finance companies.

The reason is that for existing credit card users, their credit records are available so their applications take less time to be approved, said the report.

Complicated procedures are also irritating for car dealers. A recent study from J.D. Power shows that car dealers were less satisfied with car loan services in 2015 than a year ago, with ratings out of 1,000 falling from 817 to 794.

Some even threaten to replace their current car loan providers with new ones if they fail to cut the application time and offer better services.

Mei said complicated formalities are a major problem at financial agencies. "There is much room to improve their service, but that also indicates great potential of the market."

Inadequate promotion is another problem that hinders the growth of the auto finance market.

In the Volkswagen and Ipsos survey, 45 percent of respondents said they did not realize they could use car loans until car sellers mentioned them.

Zhang Xueyong, a financial professor at the Central University of Finance and Economics, said carmakers' finance companies could play a bigger role than commercial banks in this aspect.

"Those finance companies have a closer relationship with carmakers than commercial banks, they can offer more professional services, so they can boost car consumption in a more efficient way."

Zhang also suggested that professional auto finance companies join Internet companies. "Going online will be a major trend of auto finance," said Zhang, adding that doing so will help improve customer experience, reach more potential customers, cut costs and improve efficiency.