Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc., a specialty finance company, engages in purchasing and servicing retail automobile contracts originated by franchised automobile dealers and select independent dealers in the sale of new and used automobiles, light trucks, and passenger vans in the United States. The company, through its automobile contract purchases, provides indirect financing to the customers of dealers with limited credit histories, low incomes, or past credit problems. It serves as an alternative source of financing for dealers, facilitating sales to customers who might not be able to obtain financing. The company also purchases vehicle purchase money loans from non-affiliated lenders; and directly originates vehicle purchase money loans by lending money directly to consumers. Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc. provides its automobile contracts through its headquarters and three servicing branches in Virginia, Florida, and Illinois. The company was founded in 1991 and is headquartered in Irvine, California.