Maybe you’ve heard of refinancing, but what is an auto loan refinance, and how does car refinancing work? These are good questions to ask, especially if you want to save money, because, yes – a refinance can, in most cases, help you put a little cash back in your pocket.
But how? In this article, you’ll discover what refinancing is, how car refinancing works, and how it may be beneficial for you to do right now.
In short, we’re here to answer all your burning questions about the how, what, and why of refinancing a car.
How Does Car Refinancing Work? Your Questions, Answered
Let’s start with the basics.
What is a Car Loan?
A car loan is a secured loan that can help you finance a new or used car. A car loan works in a similar way to other types of loans. A financial institution will pay for your car and you will repay them in monthly installments with an additional fee (interest). Your car acts as collateral and, if for any reason you cannot repay the lender, your car will be taken away. It's because these loans have this collateral that they're considered "secured."
What is Refinancing?
Simply put, refinancing is paying off an existing loan with a new loan, ideally a loan that has better terms. Refinancing a car to better terms often results in saving money, either in the long run by reducing the payment period or interest rate, or in the short term by reducing monthly payments.
What are the Benefits of Refinancing?
There are many! Here’s a few of the top ones.
1. Save Money with a Lower Interest Rate
You may be able to secure a lower interest rate! This is true when rates fluctuate, when your personal financial situation improves, and – commonly – when you didn’t get the best rate available to you in the first place. Many people who financed their vehicles through dealers received marked up rates, meaning they’ve been eligible for a better deal from the get-go. This is the primary motivator for people to refinance. By lowering your interest rate, you are lowering your monthly payments and will end up saving money over the course of the loan.
2. Save Money with a Shorter Payment Period
When you refinance, you may be able to change the terms of your payment period and shorten the period. This can save you money overall, as the sooner you pay back the loan, the less interest you will ultimately pay.
3. Reduce Your Monthly Payments with a Longer Payment Period
If money is a bit tight for one reason or another, car refinancing may allow you to lengthen your payment period. This will allow you to pay off the loan over a longer amount of time, reducing your monthly payments significantly. You will end up paying a bit more over the length of the loan because you will be paying interest for a longer period of time, but it can give you breathing room if you need it.
Benefits sounding pretty good?
If you’re already convinced, find out how much you can save right now with Auto Approve. With just a little information about your car and current loan, we can help you get a sense of how much you could save, no commitment required.
When Should You Refinance?
Now that we know what a car refinance is and what’s so great about refinancing, let’s talk about timing.
1. When Interest Rates Are Low
Refinancing is all about striking when the iron is hot. And by that we mean when the interest rates are hot. Interest rates are adjusted based on how the economy is performing. If the economy is not performing well, or is anticipated to not perform well, banks will lower their interest rates to encourage spending. If interest rates are lower than when you first took out your auto loan, it may be a good time to consider refinancing. Rates have fluctuated greatly over the past several years, so there is a good chance you can get a lower APR now than you could previously.
2. When Your Credit Score Has Improved
Interest rates are largely dependent on the finances of the applicant. Your credit score is one of the most important factors in securing an auto loan with good terms. Credit scores are generally categorized by the below parameters:
800 to 850: Excellent credit
740 to 799: Very good credit
670 to 739: Good credit
580 to 669: Fair credit
300 to 579: Poor credit
If your score has increased from good to very good (670 to 740), or from very good to excellent (740 to 800), it could be a great time to consider refinancing. The most favorable rates and terms are given to those with very good and excellent credit. Even if your score has increased within your bracket, but you haven’t crossed into a better category, it still might be worth getting a few quotes to see if you can get a better rate.
3. When Your Income Has Decreased or Your Expenses Have Increased
If money is tight due to a loss of income or an increase in other monthly expenses, refinancing might be a good option to give your wallet some breathing room. If you lengthen your payment period, you can pay off the loan over a longer amount of time, reducing your monthly payments significantly.
When Should You Hold Off On Refinancing?
There are some situations where refinancing might be the wrong choice. Here’s a quick rundown.
1. When Your Existing Loan Has Prepayment Penalties
Some loans build in prepayment penalties to offset the lost interest that comes with paying a loan off early. These penalties can be quite high, so it is important to read the terms of your loan and decide if the savings from refinancing will outweigh the fees from prepayment. If you are unsure, call your lender directly to find out how much it will cost.
2. When You Need a High Credit Score for Another Application
Whenever you apply for a loan or credit card there is a credit check, and hard credit checks (as opposed to soft checks) and new lines of credit can negatively affect your credit score for about a year.
This is because how new your credit is affects your score – but, as long as you maintain a good history of paying on time, this new credit will actually help your score in the long run. And, fortunately, there's a fourteen day window allowed by the big three credit bureaus that allows for all credit inquiries in that span to count as one credit hit.
All that said, if you're applying for a mortgage or starting a new lease, it might be wise to wait until after that is settled to refinance your vehicle.
3. When The Timing of Your Loan Isn’t Right
While you can technically refinance at any time during the life of your loan, there are certain times where it will not make sense or be beneficial to refinance.
You’ve had your existing loan for less than six months. It takes some time for your credit score to bounce back after taking out a loan, so waiting at least six months will be helpful if you hope to get a better interest rate than before. If this is your first loan, it is recommended to wait at least a year to prove that you have a history of on time payments.
You have less than two years left on your loan. Car loans accrue interest over time. Because of amortization, your earlier payments pay off more interest than your later payments. As you near the end of your loan, you are paying less and less on interest and more and more on principle. The longer you wait to refinance, the less beneficial it will be to do so.
How Do You Refinance a Car?
If it seems like car refinancing might be a good idea for you, you can start the process of refinancing today. It's a hassle-free process (especially when you use Auto Approve!) and can save you money in the short and long term. Here’s how.
1. Do Your Research
Make sure you are as prepared as possible. Request a credit report, which you can do once per year for free, and make sure your credit score is good. Check that everything is accurate on your report. You can petition the credit bureau if there are any inconsistencies or errors. Look at your current loan contract and make sure you are aware of any penalties for which you may be responsible. Call your lender directly if you have any questions or want to review any of the fine print.
2. Apply to a Few Different Lenders
The application process is similar to your original car loan application. You will need the following to get started:
A Photo ID, such as a passport or driver’s license.
Your vehicle’s information, which may include the bill of sale, VIN number, make, model, and year of your car.
Proof of income and financial history, which may include pay stubs, banking information, and your credit report.
Proof of residence, such as a mortgage statement, lease agreement, or utility bill. Note that PO boxes are not acceptable as proof of residence.
Proof of insurance.
3. Compare Rates
After all of your applications are submitted, you should start hearing back with different car loan APRs and terms. Compare all of your offers and choose the one that gives you the best rate and makes the most sense for your personal situation. When you use Auto Approve for this process, one of our agents will talk you through the best options and help make sure you understand your new contract completely. (Oh, and when you refinance with Auto Approve, there are no mark-ups, so you're actually getting the best rate available every time!)
4. Sign and Start Saving Money
Once you have picked the best car refinancing option, sign on the dotted line and start seeing the benefits of refinancing immediately. Yay!
That’s Everything You Need to Know About How Car Refinancing Works
Refinancing your car loan is a simple process that can save you a boatload of money.
Auto Approve can make this process even easier and simpler for you! Just fill out some basic information and we can help you start comparing rates today. We never mark up your rates, because we're passionate about passing the savings right on to you. So if you're thinking, “Boy howdy, I better get to refinancing now!,” contact us today, cowpoke! (Seriously, what are you waiting for?)