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It’s hard to overstate the importance of a good credit score. After all, they are the main factor that lenders use when determining whether or not you are a good candidate for a loan. But your credit score is important for reasons beyond borrowing. A good credit score can help you score a better apartment, get you better rates on car insurance, and more. But how much do you really know about your credit score, and what questions should you be asking?Here’s everything you need to know about your credit score.What is credit? And what is a credit score?Credit refers to any agreement where a borrower receives money from another person or institution with the understanding that they will repay the money, usually with interest. When people talk about credit, they are referencing their credit history, which is a record of their credit usage. A credit score is a number that indicates to lenders their capacity to repay a loan. A credit score is between 300–850 and indicates a consumer's creditworthiness. The higher the score, the more likely a person is deemed to pay back their loan. How are credit scores calculated?Credit scores take into account five different factors in your credit history. Each factor is weighted differently. The factors are:Payment history (35%). Do you pay your accounts in full and on time?Amounts owed (30%). How much money do you owe?Length of credit history (15%). How long have you had accounts?Credit mix (10%). Do you have a healthy mix of accounts?New credit (10%). Are there new accounts that you haven’t proven your ability to pay?Every month different agencies will voluntarily send information to credit bureaus. These agencies typically include banks, credit unions, retail credit card companies, mortgage companies, car loan lenders, and debt collectors. These companies will share:Any new applications for an accountThe date a new account is opened and the loan amount/ credit limitThe account balanceThe status of payments madeWhether or not the account is sent to collectionsAdditionally, credit bureaus also purchase public records from public records providers. These include liens, court judgements, and bankruptcy filings.How do I know if I have good credit?The best way to know if you have good credit is to simply check your credit score. There are many sites that will allow you to check your credit score for free, so it’s a good idea to monitor it regularly. Additionally, you should check your credit report at least once a year (but we recommend reviewing it three times).Credit bureaus will allow you to access your credit report once per year for free and without it affecting your credit score. If you do this once every four months at each of the three bureaus, you will be able to effectively monitor your credit.Your credit score will follow into one of five categories, which will indicate the health of your credit score.Exceptional (Super prime): 781 to 850Very Good (Prime): 661 to 780Good (Non prime): 601 to 660Fair (Subprime): 501 to 600Poor (Deep subprime): 300 to 500What should I look for in my credit report?When you are able to review your credit report there are several things you should look for. Your report is broken down into four sections that you should review.Your personal information section. You should review to make sure that your name, address, social security number, employment history, and marital status are all up to date.Your public records section. You should review this to make sure that there are accurate records of any lawsuits, bankruptcies, liens (including tax liens), and judgements. Your credit accounts section. This will be the longest part of your report, but it's where the meat of your credit score lies. Review it to make sure your payment history is correct, that account ownership is correctly listed, that debts that are paid off are listed as so, that closed accounts are accurately noted, and that there is no negative payment information that is older than seven years.Your inquiries section. Review this to ensure that you authorized any hard inquiries on your account. It is illegal for someone to request a hard inquiry without your consent.If you notice any errors to the credit agency as soon as possible. They will look into the matter within 30 days. If they do not comply they will be in contempt of the Fair Credit Reporting Act.What are the benefits of good credit?There are many benefits of having good credit, and in general it will make your financial life much easier. These benefits include:You will be offered lower interest rates on credit cards and loansLenders will be more likely to approve youYou will get utility services more easilyLandlords will approve you for rentals more easily You will be approved for higher credit limitsYou will look better to potential employersYou will get better insurance ratesYou will have better negotiating power for loans and accountsWhat credit score do I need to refinance my car?There is no magic number credit score when it comes to refinancing your car. But car loan refinance is much more beneficial when your credit score is in good shape.The car loan APR you are offered will be based on a few factors:Your credit scoreYour income and debt-to-income ratioYour vehicleYour current loan informationCurrent market ratesYour credit score is the factor that you will have the most control over. The better your credit score is the lower the car loan APR you will be offered. The best rates are reserved for those with the best credit, so taking the time to improve your credit score is well worth it.Does refinancing affect credit score?People commonly wonder if refinancing hurts credit score. And while it will affect your credit score slightly, the benefits of refinancing a car will far outweigh any slight dips that it may cause in your score. Refinancing a car loan affects two parts of your credit score, your history length and your new credit. Opening a new account, it will shorten your credit history length. It will also count as a new credit and the hard inquiries will be noted in your credit report. But both of these will only cause slight dips in your score, and hard inquiries only affect your credit score for about a year.But the benefits of refinancing a car loan can really help your credit score. If you are having trouble making your monthly payments, refinancing to a longer repayment period can lower your monthly payments and make your monthly budget more manageable. This means that you will be able to more consistently make payments (on all of your accounts, not just your car loan). And that can really bump your payment history section, which is the most influential section of your credit report.Refinancing to a lower car loan APR can also loosen up more money in your wallet so that you can pay down other debts, which will also improve your credit score.How can I raise my credit score?If you are interested in refinancing a car loan it is a good idea to work on your credit score before applying. This will give you the best chance to be offered good terms and a good car loan APR. There are a few steps you can take to ensure your credit score is in its best shape before you apply.Make on time payments to all of your accounts (consider autopay if applicable).Check your credit report for errors.Pay down debts with high credit utilization ratios first.Continue using your credit responsibly.Don’t close any credit accounts.Request higher limits on your accounts.Catch up on any past due bills.Have someone cosign a loan with you (you can benefit from their good score).There is no quick way to improve your credit score. It will take time and commitment, but it will be worth it for you in the long run.That’s everything you need to know about credit scores: what they are, why they are important, and how you can improve yours.Building a great credit score takes time, but it’s incredibly important to your long term financial success. Better interest rates, easier approvals, and more peace of mind are waiting for you on the other side.Refinancing a car loan is a great step to helping your credit score. While you want your score to be in great shape before applying for refinance, keep in mind that it can help you improve your score too by loosening up some money every month.If you are thinking about refinancing your car loan, contact Auto Approve today! Our experts can help guide you through the refinancing process and help you start saving money immediately.So don’t wait, contact Auto Approve today to get started!GET A QUOTE IN 60 SECONDS

When you are applying for a car loan, you may be wondering what lenders are taking into consideration. Just how far do they dig, and how can you be sure that you will be approved for a new car loan? Here’s how banks determine car loan eligibility (and how you can make sure you qualify).How do banks determine if you qualify for a car loan?Lenders will look at a lot of information when determining whether or not you are eligible for a new car loan. Your current finances, your credit score, and other factors are all considered when determining eligibility.Your current incomeLenders want to see that you have steady income. Lenders will want to see current pay stubs if you are a W-2 employee (usually they will want to see more than one). If you are self employed or receive social security, you may need to provide bank statements. The lender will tell you what documents you will need to provide. They will also look at how your income compares to your debt (your debt-to-income ratio).Your credit scoreWhen you apply for a car loan lenders will pay special attention to your credit score. Your credit score is an indication of how likely you are to repay your loan, so the higher your score is, they will view you as more likely to repay your car loan. A good credit score will also help you to secure the best car loan APR possible.Your identity and residenceLenders will need to verify that you are who you say you are. They also need to know where you live so that they can repossess the car should you fail to make payments. A government issued ID is usually required for this. If you do not have one, a utility bill or lease agreement may suffice.Your down paymentAre you wondering “how does increasing the size of your down payment impact your auto loan?” The answer is, a lot. Lenders feel more comfortable giving you a car loan if you make a down payment. It will also mean that you have to borrow less money and will in turn get a more favorable car loan APR.What credit score is needed for a bank auto loan?A good credit score means you are a more trustworthy loan candidate in the eyes of the lender. Credit scores can be broken down into five categories: Exceptional (Super prime): 781 to 850Very Good (Prime): 661 to 780Good (Non prime): 601 to 660Fair (Subprime): 501 to 600Poor (Deep subprime): 300 to 500 There is no hard and fast rule for what credit score you need to have to secure a car loan, but generally you will have an easier time getting a car loan if your credit score is above a 620. But don’t just take our word for it. The latest Experian data from the third quarter of 2022 provides data on the car loan APRs offered by credit score.Superprime (781-850) average APR offered: 2.96%.Prime (661-780) average APR offered: 4.03%.Nonprime (601-660) average APR offered: 6.57%.Subprime (501-600) average APR offered: 9.75%.Deep subprime (300-500) average APR offered: 12.84%. Additionally it found that 65% of borrowers had a credit score above 661, while only 2% of borrowers had a credit score below 500. So while it is clearly not impossible to finance a car with a poor credit score, it is significantly more difficult and borrowers are offered much higher car loan APRs.How do I qualify for a refinance for a car loan?If you are looking to refinance your current car loan, you may be wondering what requirements to refinance a car there are. The refinance requirements are similar to those of simply applying for a new car loan, but your current loan and vehicle must also be taken into consideration.Your loanWhen it comes to refinance, lenders want to see that your current loan is at least six months old (although experts recommend waiting a year to refinance to give your credit score time to settle again after your initial financing). This will show that you can make your payments for this loan on time and in full. Some lenders might not require this, but you will need to at least wait until the car’s title is in the possession of your current lender. This can take weeks or even months for the paperwork to get straightened out. Lenders will also consider the time remaining and the balance remaining on your loan. Lenders usually have requirements for how much time is left on your loan (two years is pretty standard). Lenders also typically have requirements for how much of a balance remains on your car loan ($5,000 is another typical amount). If you do not have a lot of money or time remaining on your car loan you may have a difficult time qualifying for a car loan refinance.Your vehicleLenders will also consider the car you are refinancing. If your car is too old or has too many miles on it (more than ten years old and/or more than 100,000 miles) lenders may not approve you for refinancing. Some lenders will refuse to refinance certain makes and models, such as large engine or commercial vehicles. Your vehicle’s history will also be taken into account by lenders. If your car has been in a significant accident or had water damage this might be an issue for refinance.The loan to value on your current vehicle is another piece that lenders will consider when it comes to refinance. Your LTV is the total amount of your loan divided by your vehicle’s actual cash value. If this number is more than 125%, you may have a hard time getting approved for a car loan refinance. Other considerationsWhen it comes to refinance, lenders will again consider the following: Your current income and debt to income ratioYour credit scoreYour identity and residenceYour down paymentWhen applying for car loan refinance you should prepare yourself as much as possible by ensuring your credit score is in tip top shape.That’s how banks determine car loan eligibility for both new cars and refinance. Lenders look at a lot of information when determining whether or not you will qualify for a car loan. It’s a good idea to gather as much information as you can ahead of time and work on your credit score to give yourself the best chance possible of getting approved.If you are considering car loan refinance, Auto Approve is here to help! Our experts can guide you through the process and help find the refinance loan that is right for you.So what are you waiting for? Get your free quote today!GET A QUOTE IN 60 SECONDS

Insurance, warranties, vehicle protection plans, GAP insurance. Let’s be honest, it can be downright confusing to keep all of these products straight. While they are all meant to protect your property, they all work in different ways and protect you in different ways.Let’s talk about GAP insurance, how it works and how you can decide if it’s worth it.What is the purpose of GAP insurance?Before we get into what GAP insurance is, let’s talk about all of the different vehicle protections you have and discuss what protects what.WarrantyA warranty is provided by the car manufacturer and covers any problems that may occur to the car that are not your fault. There are two types of warranties, limited bumper to bumper warranties and limited powertrain warranties. Limited bumper-to-bumper warranties cover most things that can go wrong on your car, generally only excluding things like wear and tear and theft. Limited powertrain warranties cover the parts of your car that make the car drive, such as the drivetrain and the transmission. These typically last three to five years depending on the dealer.Vehicle Protection PlanA vehicle protection plan is an optional feature that can cover if something goes wrong on your car that is not your fault after your initial warranty expires. It is essentially an extended warranty. Coverage varies from policy to policy. Vehicle protection plans and warranties are designed to cover problems with your car that are not related to an accident.Car InsuranceCar insurance on the other hand is designed specifically for accidents and external factors that affect your car. Car insurance protects you in two ways: it covers any damage that occurs to your car as a result of an accident and protects you financially if you are liable for someone else’s injuries or damages. Car insurance is required in all states except New Hampshire (but you are still financially responsible for any damages that are your fault, so you should really have it anyway).There are different levels of insurance which all cover different things:Liability insurance is composed of three parts: bodily injury coverage per person, bodily injury coverage per accident, and property damage coverage per accident. This covers any damage you may cause to another driver, their passengers, or their property, including their car. Liability insurance is the minimum insurance requirement in most states. Comprehensive insurance, which covers the cost of damages to your vehicle if there is a non-crash accident, such as weather damage or theft. This also covers damage that occurs if you hit an animal. Collision insurance covers damages to your vehicle if you hit or are hit by another vehicle.GAP InsuranceGAP insurance, or Guaranteed Asset Protection, is optional insurance that kicks in when there is a gap between what insurance will pay and what you still owe on the car.Let’s say you owe $15,000 on your car when you get into an accident. Your car insurance decides that they will only pay out $12,000 in damages. This means that you are still responsible for $3,000 to the lender. GAP insurance would ensure that you do not have to pay this amount.How quickly do cars depreciate?GAP insurance protects you from depreciation. But just how fast do new cars depreciate? Well, pretty quickly actually. When looking at the rate of depreciation, we can divide it into three categories: after it leaves the lot, after one year, and after five years.After it leaves the lot…Your car loses value the second you drive your car off of the dealership’s lot. The car officially has an owner and is no longer a new car. It is estimated that a new car loses about 10% the moment it leaves the lot. Your car can go from $30,000 to $27,000 in a few seconds. After one year…Your car will lose the most value in the first year you have it. Experts estimate that new cars lose 20% of their value in the first year. After five years…After the initial depreciation of the first year, cars tend to lose about 15% of their value every year. By the end of the car’s first five years, it will lose about 60% of its original value. Depreciation occurs due to a number of factors, including:Mileage. High mileage shortens the amount of usable time left on the car and causes faster depreciation. Age. The older a car is, the less it’s worth. The Make and Model. Certain car’s depreciate at a faster rate simply due to supply and demand. Value is ultimately based on how much someone is willing to pay for it. If you have a less desirable car, expect your car to depreciate at a faster rate.Ownership History. Cars with fewer owners will depreciate more slowly than those with a lot of owners.Condition. If the car is in good condition and has not been in a lot of accidents, it will depreciate slower. If it has a pretty checkered past, it will deprecate at a higher rate. Regular oil changes, alignments, and general maintenance will slow deprecation. Color. While this seems insignificant, the color of your car will actually dictate depreciation. Neutral colors depreciate slower than other colors, since neutral colors are always in style. Is getting gap insurance worth it?GAP insurance is specifically designed for people who are financing, so it will not make sense for everyone to get it. But there are times when it is definitely worth it. Ask yourself the following questions to determine if GAP insurance is worth it. Did you put less than 20% as a down payment?GAP insurance helps you when your car loan is underwater. This means that you owe more on your car than your car is worth. Your car is more likely to be underwater if you did not put a significant amount down. Depreciation occurs at different rates depending on your car, but your car starts depreciating the minute you drive off the lot. The more you put as a down payment, the less likely your car’s depreciation will outpace the car’s value.Is your car a lease? Your car lease may specifically require GAP insurance, in addition to collision, comprehensive, and liability. Check the fine print to determine if it is necessary.Does your car have a high depreciation rate?As we mentioned above, different cars depreciate at different rates. Luxury cars tend to depreciate at the fastest rate, but every make seems to have a few models that suffer from depreciation more than others. Be sure to do your research to determine if your car will suffer. Do you drive a lot?One of the biggest contributors to depreciation (that you can control) is how many miles you put on your car. If you drive a lot, your car will depreciate faster and will have a higher chance of ending up underwater.Do you have a long repayment period?The longer your repayment period is, the higher the chance is that your loan balance will outweigh your car’s value. Long repayment periods are great for your monthly budget (after all your monthly payments will be lower when you have a longer period to pay the loan off). But long repayment periods mean that you will pay more in interest over the life of the loan and your car will have a greater chance of becoming underwater. GAP insurance can help protect you from this.Can you get gap insurance after you buy a car?GAP insurance is not offered by car dealerships, so getting it after you purchase your car is not a big deal. You can get GAP insurance through most standard insurance companies, or you can get it from a third party.If you are looking to refinance your car, Auto Approve works with you to make sure you get the best GAP coverage possible. Our loans come with GAP to protect you from negative equity. And the best news is that GAP insurance is incredibly affordable. Most customers can get GAP insurance for less than $14 a month. And considering how much money and hassle that can save you, it’s a real life saver (at an incredible price).That’s everything you need to know about GAP insurance, and how you can decide if it’s right for you. If you are considering refinancing your car, it makes really good sense to bundle GAP insurance in with your new loan. It is easy, affordable, and can save you a lot of headaches in the future. No one wants to get stuck with a bill they can’t afford (and a car that’s totalled and still keeping you in debt). Auto Approve is here to help you refinance your car loan with ease. Our experts can help guide you through the refinancing process and make sure you get the best car loan possible. Add in GAP insurance and you are set.So don’t wait any longer, contact Auto Approve today to get started!GET A QUOTE IN 60 SECONDS