Tighter credit standards are forcing many car buyers to put down more cash up front to get a loan, according to USA Today.

The average down payment last month was $3,108, up 42% from $2,194 in the same month two years ago, Edmunds.com reports. That's the highest average down payment since the car-buying research site began tracking the number in 2002.

Lenders are pulling back on how much of the transaction price they'll finance, cutting their risk and requiring buyers to fork over more cash.