Is your car loan APR high? If so, you are probably thinking about refinancing your car loan.
But how do you know when it is the right time to refinance a car loan? Refinancing is all about timing, after all. So let’s jump in!
How Long Should You Wait To Refinance Your Car?
It is possible to refinance car loans at any point. But when is it the most beneficial to do so?
At the bare minimum, you will need to wait 60 to 90 days to refinance your car loan. This is about how long it takes to complete all of the necessary paperwork and get everything filed where it needs to go.
Experts recommend waiting at least six months to refinance your car loan. This will give your credit score a chance to bounce back after the initial hard inquiry on your account. It will also give you the chance to make consistent, on time payments to your current loan. This will help improve your credit score and prove to future lenders that you are reliable when it comes to repayment.
The earlier you refinance your car loan, the more beneficial it will be to you. Why? Because car loans are amortized and front loaded. This means that in the beginning of your loan, your payments go more towards the interest than towards the principal. So when you are refinancing to a lower rate it will be more beneficial when you are paying the most towards that interest, i.e. in the beginning of the loan.
You want to find the sweet spot where your credit score is at its best, ensuring you will get the best interest rates available, and where you are paying a lot towards interest, ensuring it will be most beneficial to you.
Pro Tip: Be sure to check your existing auto loan before you refinance to see if there are prepayment penalties. These penalties can be heavy and may outweigh the benefits of refinancing.
Understand How A Car Refinance Works Before You Sign
Car refinancing is when you pay off your existing car loan with a new loan, one that ideally has better terms and a better interest rate. If you have a low car loan APR and good terms, then great! You don’t need to worry about refinancing. But if you are like most car owners out there, you are probably overpaying on your car loan. So what are the qualifications to refinance your car loan?
Your car’s age and mileage. If your car is older or has more than 100,000 miles on it, lenders may not want to refinance your loan.
The time left on your loan. If you have less than a year left on your loan, lenders may not see it as worthwhile to refinance your loan.
Your credit score. Your credit score should be in good standing to refinance your car loan.
Your current payments. Lenders will want to see that you are up to date on your payments with your existing lender.
Ok, so you meet the qualifications. But why should you consider refinancing your car loan? How beneficial can it really be? Refinancing your car loan can be a great idea for a lot of reasons.
You can save money in the long run. A lower APR means that you are paying less in interest over the length of the loan. This can add up to thousands of dollars over the years.
You can lower your monthly payments. If you need a little more breathing room every month, refinancing your car loan can lower your APR, which will lower your monthly payments. It will also allow you to change your repayment period. This means that you can choose to repay your loan over a longer period of time, which will automatically lower your monthly payments.
You can add or remove a cosigner. People have cosigners for many different reasons. Maybe you have added on a friend because they have a better credit score, and it secured you a better rate. Or maybe you have your child on as a cosigner to help them build credit. No matter what the reason is, any change that you may want to make to your loan arrangement will require a refinance. You cannot simply add or remove a cosigner from an existing loan.
Car refinancing has a lot of benefits and can save you a lot of money in the long run.
What Fees Do Car Refinance Companies Charge?
Refinancing a car loan is much different than refinancing a mortgage. While mortgage refinancing requires appraisals and closing costs, auto refinancing is much simpler.
Typically your biggest fee will be your title fee, which is usually around $75. On top of that, the lender may charge a processing fee of $10 to $15 dollars. If your existing loan has prepayment penalties, you will be required to pay those as well.
Some car refinance companies will charge additional fees when they refinance your car. This often comes in the form of them tacking on a percentage to the APR that the lender offers.
At Auto Approve, we don’t believe in that. We want the savings to be passed on right to you. That’s why we never mark up our rates the way that some of our competitors do.
Auto Approveis committed to making the auto refinancing process as easy as possible. That’s why all you need to do is head to our online quote form, answer a few quick questions, and let us handle the rest! We will shop around and get you multiple quotes from different lenders, handling all that legwork so you don’t have to. Then you can pick which deal and lender is the best for you!
After you pick your offer, we will send you all of the documents that you need to sign electronically, so you can complete your refinance from the comfort of your home. And that’s it! We will even handle the pesky DMV paperwork for you.
You don’t need to take our word for it. Our customers are raving about how easy and hassle free refinancing a car loan with Auto Approve is. We have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and our customers have given us a whopping 96% would recommend rating on LendingTree. Not to toot our own horn, but we definitely know what we are doing when it comes to refinance.
The sooner you refinance your car loan, the more money you can save in the long run.
Smart Money Moves to Make When You Have A Little Extra Cash In Your Pocket
“What can I do with $500?”It’s one of the internet’s most-asked personal finance questions. Well, here at Auto Approve, we’re always saving people money. After all, refinancing your auto loan can save you anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand dollars over the life of the loan! That means we’ve had some time to think about what your next step should be.Whether you have a few hundred or a few thousand dollars back in your pocket, here are 5 smart things to do when you have more money back in your wallet!The Best Thing to Do When You Have Surprise CashAlways speak to an advisor about your unique financial situation before making any big moves. Everyone’s personal finance journey is unique, so these may not all apply to you. Hopefully you can find an idea for your money (or a combination of these suggestions!) that sounds just right.1. Put it in savingsA simple, elegant solution for any windfall, putting your money in savings – especially a high yield savings account, if you have the option – is a great way to set up your future self for success. Savings are important for so many reasons, from lowering financial stress to ensuring you have future freedom.Most Americans aren’t hitting savings recommended targets for emergency funds and retirement. While this bit of extra cash in your wallet might not feel like enough to get you there, any amount is a good start!Ideally, money you save should start to grow with interest so you can keep earning a little extra pocket change on autopilot. Many high yield savings accounts have no minimum balance, so you can even start earning a few percent on just $500 – although the more you can add to the account to grow it, the better.2. Pay down debtDepending on your overall financial situation, you may want to use any extra cash to knock off some debt. If you have debt with a relatively high interest rate – like credit card debt – paying off even a portion of the balance will save you from paying more interest than you need to in the long run.Having less debt has financial and psychological benefits! It can reduce stress as well as expenses. Plus, reducing your credit utilization ratio and debt-to-income ratio can raise your credit score and make you more eligible for future loans should you want to make a big purchase down the line.And if you have a larger chunk of debt, it might be worth consolidating your debt while you’re at it. Consolidating your debt means bringing all your debt together under one umbrella (or fewer umbrellas, at least, depending on the nature of your debt). It can help you get more favorable terms and simplify the money management and payment process.Use the extra cash toward your first payment(s) and take time to figure out how you can build a budget and make changes in your spending to avoid future issues.3. Put it in an index fundConsider growing your money by putting it in an index fund.An index fund lets your money rise (and fall) with the stock market. If you can handle a little risk and won’t need the money in the immediate future, putting it in an index fund is a good way to enter the stock market for the first time and to ensure you have money at least matching the rate of inflation. That means your $500 today will be worth the equivalent of $500 several decades from now – or, ideally, more. After all, historically speaking, the stock market has always trended upwards in the long run, so even when things are down, the best advice is usually just to hang on and it’ll work itself out. This is especially true of index funds that don’t rely heavily on one company’s success or failure but rather act as a picture of the market overall.Wondering where to get some extra cash to get started? Consider refinancing! Refinancing allows you to get the best rate you’re eligible for and to change the term of the loan, meaning you can pay less per month and pay less interest overall. Most people who got their auto loan from a dealer can save money thanks to marked up dealership rates!Get a free quote to see how much you could save.4. Start a side hustleIf you want to grow your extra cash into more extra cash, why not use it to start a side hustle? Whether there’s something you love to do or something you’re good at that might be in demand, a little investment can go a long way to get you started. Popular side hustles include things like cottage baking, photography, design, selling things from your garden, or skills learned for work like accounting, personal assistant work, coaching, and so on.If you want to get started with a side job, some things you might consider spending the extra money on could include:EquipmentSoftwareIngredients or materialsA websiteA small standMarketingCourses to build your skillsCertifications to make yourself more marketable5. Spend it on someone or something you loveSo you have a little extra money in your pocket. If you’re in good financial shape otherwise, you can use it as an excuse to treat yourself, your friends, your partner, or your family!Experiences and fun aren’t without inherent value. A great meal might inspire you to cook differently at home. Guitar lessons might feed your soul. A vacation could expand your horizons and help you feel refreshed. And fun is important just for the sake of fun! Even with just a few hundred dollars, you could plan a road trip or find ways to add more excitement and joy to your year.And those are 5 great ways to make the most of $500 (or more!)Which option is right for you and your money? Only you can say. But hopefully, these ideas have given you a jumping off point to get started making your extra cash go further.Put more money in your pocket with Auto Approve.Is refinancing right for you? Find out how much you could save in just a few minutes! Tell us a bit about your vehicle and current loan to see your refinancing options – no commitment or hard credit check required unless you decide to move forward with refinancing! When you get a free quote, an Auto Approve representative will work with you to find the right option for you, then do the paperwork for you when you find a loan that’s right for you.Get your free quote now.
How Does Car Refinancing Work?
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, AnsweredLet’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. Get your free quote now!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 LowRefinancing 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 ImprovedInterest 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 credit740 to 799: Very good credit670 to 739: Good credit580 to 669: Fair credit300 to 579: Poor creditIf 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 IncreasedIf 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 PenaltiesSome 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 ApplicationWhenever 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 RightWhile 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 ResearchMake 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 LendersThe 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 MoneyOnce 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 WorksRefinancing 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?)GET A QUOTE IN 60 SECONDS
The Best Car Movies for Kids Who Love Wheels
It can be hard to find movies that are both suitable for kids and fun for adults, especially in the younger years when kids are super into cars, trucks, and wheels of all kinds. This list contains some of the top-rated kid-friendly car movies, whether you’re setting them up for a watch from the road, preparing for a road trip, or just planning a fun family movie night.Here are some of the best kid-friendly movies featuring vehicles and characters with wheels.Kids Movies with Cars and WheelsWe’ve included information about content suitability here, but it’s ultimately up to you to know what’s right for your child and your household rules, of course!1. Cars SeriesCommon Sense Media Age Rating: 5+ (up to 8+ depending on the film)Starting this list off with a bang, Pixar’s Cars and all its various sequels and spin-offs are probably the number one choice for parents and car-obsessed kids. There’s tons of content in the series, and all of it has the Disney-Pixar stamp of approval, meaning you know you’re getting good family fun.The series includes Cars, Cars 2, Cars 3, several TV series and short films, and the spin-offs Planes and Planes: Fire & Rescue. Cars (the original) has the highest Rotten Tomatoes score and Planes has the lowest, so prepare yourself accordingly.2. Herbie MoviesCommon Sense Media Age Rating: 7+Another well-known car-centric family friendly series, The Love Bug, its Herbie sequels, and the 2005 remake Herbie: Fully Loaded are widely accepted as car-centric kid-friendly classics. While older movies can sometimes come with discussion points about content, The Love Bug remains good family fun with little that hasn’t aged well – and Herbie: Fully Loaded might be better than some remember (or at least will keep the kids entertained).3. TurboCommon Sense Media Age Rating: 6+This animated movie about a speed-loving snail played by Ryan Reynolds may have slipped past the radar for adults without kids in 2013, but it’s a delightful little racing movie about a snail with a dream. While there are technically no cars featured in this movie – the snails themselves are the racers – it’s still a solid pick for kids that love all things vehicles as the gastropods hit the pavement. And the star studded cast, which includes Samuel L. Jackson, Maya Rudolph, Paul Giamatti, and Bill Hader, makes it fun for grown-ups too!4. It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad WorldCommon Sense Media Age Rating: 8+This beloved 1960s road race classic is a barrel of laughs for kids of all ages – and happens to feature tons of different vehicles, car chase scenes, and slapstick antics on the road. This movie skews a little older – its run time is almost 3 hours and there’s a character who drinks profusely – but things are kept light and broad. With memorable performances from Spencer Tracy, Jimmy Durante, Ethel Merman, and Mickey Rooney, it’s an old-school movie but well worth a watch.5. Tom and Jerry: The Fast and the FurryCommon Sense Media Age Rating: 5+If you haven’t thought about Tom and Jerry since you were a kid yourself, you wouldn’t be alone, but the classic cartoon is still releasing new films at a steady pace. The Fast and the Furry, a 75-minute long movie from 2005, is considered among the best, and follows Tom and Jerry racing around the world in hopes of winning a new home after accidentally wrecking their old house. Tom and Jerry fans and skeptics alike are apt to enjoy this short, zany, G-rated race movie.Kids can be expensive!If you want more money in your pocket for the things that matter most, consider refinancing your vehicle with Auto Approve. If you got your financing from a dealer, you’re likely paying a higher rate than you need to be. Auto Approve can help lower your monthly payment in just a few minutes.Get a free quote to see how much you could save.6. Rally Road RacersCommon Sense Media Age Rating: 6+A rookie race car driver, a slow loris named Zhi played by Jimmy O. Yang, tries to save his family’s home by betting he can beat a rally racing champion in this fast-paced animated movie. He trains with friends and gets help from a veteran racer (played by J. K. Simmons), and in the process sees more of the world. While Rally Road Racers will likely appeal more to kids than adults, with John Cleese as Zhi’s nemesis, there’s enough to keep parents entertained.7. The Great RaceCommon Sense Media Age Rating: 6+Like It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, The Great Race is a slapstick comedy from the 1960s, this one featuring a suave hero – helped along by Natalie Wood, playing a suffragette in a top-notch performance – racing a dastardly professor (Jack Lemmon, with Peter Falk as his bumbling assistant) from New York to Paris. Is it a little dated? Sure. But it’s still a family fun film built around a car chase, and a nice break from all animation all the time!Special MentionsWhile those are the top movies for car kids, there are a few more movies with prominent vehicles worth checking out!My Neighbor Totoro: For small kids who love buses, the cat bus in My Neighbor Totoro is a classicBob the Builder (series and movies): For small kids (3+) who love construction vehiclesThe Lego Movie: For slightly older kids (6+) who love construction vehiclesLooking for ideas for older kids? These movies all feature cars, trucks, driving, road trips, or car chases – and content that may be a bit more mature than some of the other options on this list. Speed Racer (8+)Back to the Future (10+)Transformers (11+)Smokey and the Bandit (13+)Talladega Nights (14+)Blues Brothers (16+)Those Are The Best Car Movies for KidsReady to drive off into the sunset with one of these picks? Whether the cars are racing, chasing, or falling in love (hello, Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo), there should be an idea here that’ll fit any wheel fanatic kid.And if not and the kids are old enough that you’re looking for something you’ll love, why not check out this list of the best road trip movies?Refinancing means more money for entertainmentThere are plenty of good reasons to want more money in your pocket, whether that’s more discretionary income for fun stuff or a little wiggle room in a tight budget. The good news is, the odds are good that Auto Approve can help you lower your monthly auto loan payment, your rate, or both!Simply tell us a little bit about your vehicle and current loan – no commitment or credit check required to get started – and you’ll be matched with an Auto Approve representative who can help you find the best deal for you, then do the paperwork for you.Get your free quote now.
*APR and Fees Disclosure: Auto Approve works to find you the best Annual Percentage Rate (APR), which is based on factors like your credit history, vehicle and desired payment terms. Fees to complete your loan refinance vary by state and lender; they generally include admin fees, doc fees, DMV and title. Advertised 5.49% APR based on: 2019 model year or newer vehicle, 730 minimum FICO credit score, and loan term up to 72 months. All loans subject to credit and lender approval.
Auto Approve has an A+ rating with the BBB and is located at 5775 Wayzata Blvd, Suite 700 #3327 St. Louis Park, MN 55416-1233. Auto Approve works to find its customers the best terms and APR, which are based on factors like credit history, vehicle, and desired payment terms. Loan amounts, costs, and fees vary by state and lender; they generally include admin fees, doc fees, DMV, and title fees, depending on the lender and period of repayment. There is no fee to obtain a quote and all refinancing-related costs are included in the amount financed so there are no out-of-pocket costs! For more information, please go to AutoApprove.com.