If you’re advertising vehicles through Google Merchant Center, there’s a small but essential update you should be aware of. Google has made a change to the installment attribute used in vehicle ads—and it’s now optional in more markets, along with the introduction of a new sub-attribute.
What Changed?
There are two main updates to the installment attribute:
1. Installment Now Optional in the US (In Addition to the UK)
This attribute is used to display monthly payment information for financed vehicles. Including it helps improve ad clarity and performance—especially in markets where financing plays a significant role in vehicle purchasing decisions.
2. New Sub-Attribute: APR (Annual Percentage Rate)
Google has also added a new sub-attribute to the installment field called APR, which stands for Annual Percentage Rate. This is now required for credit-type financing offers in the US.
- The APR value is a decimal. For example, 2.00 represents an APR of 2%.
- Since APRs often vary depending on factors such as the buyer’s credit score or financing terms, a disclaimer will be automatically added to your ads indicating that the APR is subject to change.
This is a positive move for transparency, as it ensures buyers know that financing terms can vary and aren’t locked into a single flat rate.
Why This Matters
These updates are part of Google’s ongoing effort to make vehicle ads more informative and compliant with local regulations, particularly regarding financing disclosures. Suppose you’re running vehicle ads in the US or UK and don’t include the necessary installment information. In that case, your listings may be disapproved, or worse, your account could be flagged for policy violations.
What Should You Do?
If you’re an advertiser or agency managing vehicle listings, here’s what I recommend:
- Review your feed setup and ensure that all vehicle listings targeting the UK and US include the installment attribute if required.
- For US listings that involve credit-based financing, include the APR sub-attribute as part of the installment data.
- Double-check your values to ensure they are in the correct format (e.g., decimal for APR).
- Monitor the Merchant Center for any new warnings or disapprovals tied to these requirements.
You can find full technical documentation here:
👉 Installment attribute specification from Google