10 Best Auto Refinance Companies for March 2024

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If you’re unhappy with your current loan’s interest rate or monthly payment, then refinancing your auto loan might be a viable option.

It could be a smart move if interest rates have dropped. It may also be a good idea if your credit has improved, or you didn’t explore all your loan options the first time around.

Here are our top picks for the best auto refinance companies, along with some tips on how to get the best loan possible.

10 Best Auto Refinance Companies

Auto Credit Express

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  • Minimum credit score: 500
  • Loan term: Up to 72 months
  • A+ BBB rating

If you have poor credit, Auto Credit Express is an option worth considering for auto loan refinancing.

They’re a large network with over 1,000 dealer partners. They specialize in helping those with bad credit secure or refinance their existing auto loan. However, they also have great options for good to excellent credit borrowers.

To qualify for refinancing, you must be current on your monthly payments and have equity in your vehicle.

Also, keep in mind that auto lenders will have their own set of criteria. That usually entails a maximum vehicle age limit of 10 years, a mileage limit of 100,000 or less, and a minimum loan amount of $5,000. The minimum credit score is 580.

Auto Credit Express is accredited by the Better Business Bureau with an A+ rating. If you’re interested in refinancing your vehicle, complete the online application.

The application process only takes three minutes. You’ll get a rapid response to know if you’ve been matched with potential lenders.

Read our full review of Auto Credit Express

rateGenius

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  • Minimum credit score: 500
  • Loan amount: $12,000 – $100,000
  • Quick application

If you have average credit, an auto refinance loan with rateGenius will likely result in lower monthly payments. In fact, the average customer savings is $996.

Operating in all 50 states, it has partnered with over 150 lenders nationwide and has an average customer satisfaction of 4.9 out of 5.

To qualify, your auto loan must be more than $10,000 and less than $100,000. Your car cannot be older than ten years, nor can it have more than 150,000 miles on it.

Additionally, you must earn at least $2,000 or more each month, and the minimum credit score is 525.

If you change your mind at any point during the application process, you’re never under any obligation to commit.

Unlike most auto loan refinance companies that just refinance auto loans, you can refinance just about any vehicle you can think of.

They offer refinancing options for trucks, SUVs, RVs, motorcycles, and boats. Use their loan calculator to figure out how much money you can save by refinancing.

Read our full review of rateGenius

Consumers Credit Union

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  • Minimum credit score: 620
  • Loan term: Up to 84 months
  • No minimum loan amount, max is $600,000

Consumers Credit Union has one of the lowest auto refinance rates in the industry. You can get a loan up to $600,000 with loan terms from 12 to 84 months.

To qualify for a loan from Consumers Credit Union, you will first need to become a member. Fortunately, membership is available to everyone and it only costs $5.00.

The minimum credit score is 640, and they do a hard credit check when you apply, which will slightly affect your credit.

Upstart

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  • Minimum credit score: 510
  • Loan amount: $9,000 – $60,000
  • Get a personalized rate in minutes

Upstart works with a network of lenders to find you the best offer. The pre-qualification process only requires a soft credit check.

Upstart uses nontraditional criteria for loan approval, such as highest level of education and occupation. This gives people with bad and fair credit a better chance of qualifying.

This auto refinance lender also has a customer service team that is available seven days a week.

MyAutoLoan

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  • Minimum credit score: 575
  • Loan term: 24 – 84 months
  • A+ BBB rating

MyAutoLoan is also an online marketplace that gets you up to four auto loan refinance offers at once.

Auto loan rates are as low as 2.24% for those with excellent credit. However, not having a good credit history won’t necessarily prevent you from qualifying.

It’s easy to apply, and upon approval, you’ll receive an online certificate or check within 24 hours.

Submit the online application, explore the auto refinance loan offers, and choose the one that fits your needs. Once you’ve submitted all the necessary paperwork, the lender will take it from there.

Read our full review of MyAutoLoan

Caribou

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  • Minimum credit score: 650
  • Max loan amount: $150,000
  • Loan term: 24 – 80 months

Caribou’s minimum credit score requirement is 650, which falls in the Fair Credit range. They are one of the best auto refinance companies for borrowers in this category.

Using Caribou, borrowers can access a wide range of partner lenders that refinance auto loans, primarily credit unions and community banks.

Prequalification only requires a soft credit check, and you won’t need a Social Security number.

Caribou is not available in Maryland, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, West Virginia, or Wisconsin.

AutoPay

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  • Minimum credit score: none
  • Loan term: 24 – 84 months
  • Loan amount: $2,500 – $100,000

AutoPay is also an online marketplace that offers rates as low as 5.49% on auto loan refinancing. Customers have three types of refinancing to choose from:

  • Traditional refinancing: designed to lower your interest rate and car payment
  • Cashback refinancing: designed to put money back into your pocket
  • Lease payoff refinancing: designed to help you pay your lease in full before the lease term expires, so you can keep the vehicle and avoid fees.

Even better, they cater to consumers with all types of credit, so having a bad credit score doesn’t mean you won’t qualify for a more competitive rate.

When you submit a pre-qualification application, AutoPay does a soft credit pull, so your credit score is not impacted.

Read our full review of AutoPay

LendingClub

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  • Minimum credit score: none
  • Loan amount: $5,000 – $55,000
  • Lower car payment by $86 per month on average

If you want to compare multiple offers of lenders who refinance auto loans, consider LendingClub. With just a few details about you and your vehicle, you could get offers within minutes.

If any of the loan terms and interest rates look favorable, you can fill out a full application and submit any necessary supporting documents.

Your former auto loan will immediately be paid off with your new loan funds. Then, you can start making payments to your new lender.

To qualify for auto refinancing within LendingClub’s network, your car must be less than ten years old and have less than 120,000 miles on it.

Your current loan must be between $5,000 and $55,000, at least one-month-old, and have at least two years of payments left on it.

If you meet these basic requirements, you can fill out the rate request form to see if you could save money by refinancing your existing loan.

Read our full review of LendingClub

PenFed Credit Union

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  • Minimum credit score: none
  • Loan term: 24 – 72 months
  • Loan amount: $500 – $100,000

PenFed Credit Union provides members with up to six offers with various rates and terms, and it won’t cost you a hard credit check. You can prequalify within minutes, and the application process can be done 100% online.

PenFed offers cash-out refinancing, which means that if you have equity in your vehicle, you can receive cash up to 125% of the vehicle’s value when refinancing your existing loan.

One thing to keep in mind is that existing PenFed Credit Union auto loans are not eligible for refinance.

LendingTree

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  • Minimum credit score: none
  • Loan term: 12 – 84 months
  • Loan amount: $5,000 – $100,000

If you prefer to explore multiple lenders by only completing one application, LendingTree is a smart option.

LendingTree allows you to select your desired loan terms (up to 84 months) and view offers without impacting your credit.

Before submitting your application, you can also use their online tool to view auto refinance rates by location.

The form will prompt you to enter your zip code, loan amount, and credit score. It also displays the lowest APRs available for auto loan refinancing by loan term.

Read our full review of LendingTree

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What to Look for in an Auto Refinance Lender

When it comes to comparing offers from auto refinance lenders, including your bank, credit union or any online lender, it’s important to keep all the details in focus. Finding the best auto refinance loans requires evaluating both the monthly payments and the overall cost of the loan.

In addition, you’ll also want to figure out your priorities and needs when it comes to things like fees, transparency, and customer service. Getting clear on your expectations here will make it easier to compare offers, and help you refinance your auto loan with confidence.

Annual Percentage Rate

The primary factor to consider when searching for any loan is the APR, or annual percentage rate. This indicates the amount of interest, and total value, you’ll have to pay back on your loan.

Refinancing your auto loan with a lower rate than your current auto loan is the goal here, so it’s important to take the time to find the lowest rate possible.

Fees & Penalties

Always consider the APR and the fees for any loan. Even if the interest rate offered is attractive, some lenders will have fees and penalties that will outweigh the initial benefit of a low rate, and make auto refinancing pricier than necessary.

Some fees are common, such as origination fees, but make sure to read the fine print with every loan offer. Don’t be afraid to negotiate or ask questions about fees or penalties on a new car loan.

Loan Terms

Many of the best auto refinance companies will offer flexible loan repayment terms. Most loan terms range from 24 to 84 months. It’s important to get your budget at least outlined before you shop for lenders because you’ll want to have an idea of how long you’d like to take to pay off your loan.

Remember that the longer you extend your loan term, the harder it will be to qualify for the best interest rates available. Extending your loan payments over a longer period of time will result in lower monthly payments, but you’ll pay more in interest over the course of the loan. A shorter loan term usually means access to the lowest rates.

Discounts

Look out for lenders who might offer discounts on a new auto loan, as this could help you make significant savings. For example, many auto loan refinance lenders will offer an improved interest rate if you sign up for automatic monthly payments. Other financial institutions, such as big banks, often offer discounts for signing up for other banking and financial products, such as checking or savings accounts.

Transparency

When looking to improve on your current loan, it’s important to look for reputable lenders. A reputable company will be honest and upfront about their fees, terms and conditions, as well as any potential penalties if you fall behind on payments.

Checking out customer reviews is a great way to evaluate quality, as well as making sure any lender has a good rating with the Better Business Bureau.

How to Refinance a Car Loan

Check Your Credit Score

Before applying with a lender, check your credit score to see where you stand. Don’t overlook this pertinent step, since your credit score plays a major role in whether your application is approved.

Grab a free copy of your credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus. Evaluate each section to ensure the information is accurate. If you spot any errors or issues, file disputes promptly to have them rectified.

You want to give yourself the best possible chance of getting your application for refinancing approved. So, you can’t afford to have errors on your credit reports dragging your credit scores down.

While 90% of auto refinance lenders use FICO scores to evaluate creditworthiness, their algorithms vary across the board. So, your concern should be with what’s in your credit report, since that’s where your credit score is derived from.

Research Lenders

You may be able to refinance your car loan through local financial institutions, like a national bank or local credit union. However, in addition to banks and credit unions, there are scores of online lenders and online loan marketplaces that may be worth considering.

This will help you determine which auto refinance companies offer the best auto loan refinance rates and narrow down your options. Most importantly, you may determine that refinancing may not be a good fit if the interest rates are the same or higher.

Most auto refinance companies have minimum and maximum loan amount requirements. Make sure the loan amount that you want to refinance falls within those requirements.

Word of caution: You may be able to secure a lower monthly payment with the same or a slightly lower interest rate. However, it may end up costing you a lot more in interest in the long run. More on this shortly.

Gather Documentation

Auto loan refinancing lenders will need to verify key information on your loan application to approve you for refinancing. Therefore, it’s a good idea to reach out to the lender beforehand to confirm what they’ll need. This typically includes:

  • Copy of driver’s license
  • Vehicle identification number
  • Copy of most recent pay stub (federal tax returns from the past two-years may be required if you’re self-employed)
  • Purchase agreement from the initial purchase (or lease agreement)
  • Registration documents

Doing so will help streamline the process, as you’ll be prepared when the time comes to apply.

Submit Applications

Worried about your credit scores taking a hit if you apply with multiple lenders? Don’t be. Multiple loan applications will only be counted as a single inquiry if submitted within a 30-day window. Your credit score will take a small hit, but it beats multiple inquiries at once.

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Conduct a Cost-Benefit Analysis

Once you have received approval for the auto refinance loan, it’s time to analyze the numbers to determine if refinancing will benefit you. You can do so by entering the numbers into an auto loan refinance calculator.

Also, check to see if your current lender charges a prepayment penalty for paying your car loan off early and remember to factor that in.

Here are a couple of scenarios to illustrate:

Scenario 1

Let’s say your monthly auto loan payments are $684, and the remaining loan balance is $30,000. This amount is set to be paid off in four years.

If your current interest rate is 8.5%, and you qualify for a lower rate of 4.5% with a four-year loan term, you will lower your monthly payment by $57 each month. Plus, you will save $2,683 over the life of the loan. In this case, it makes sense to refinance.

Scenario 2

Let’s say your monthly car payment is $375, and you have $10,000 left on the original loan, which you will pay over the next three years. If your current loan rate is 6% and the lender agrees to lower the rate to 5%, but with a six-year loan term, your monthly payment will drop to $242.

However, you will pay $3,893 more in interest due to the extended loan terms. In this case, it wouldn’t be wise to refinance your auto loan unless you were desperate for a lower monthly payment.

Prepayment Penalties

Make sure to check with your lender to see if your current loan has prepayment penalties. If it does, depending on how much the prepayment penalty is, it might not be worth refinancing your auto loan.

Review the Final Loan Documents

Before signing on the dotted line, go over the refinance loan documents in their entirety. If there’s any verbiage or terms that seem strange or unfamiliar, seek clarity to avoid confusion later on down the line.

Once you approve and sign, the auto loan refinance lender will send detailed instructions to wrap up the process. Then, moving forward, you will deal with the new lender to make payments and address any questions or issues with your auto loan.

Bottom Line

Refinancing your auto loan can be a smart financial move, potentially leading to lower interest rates and monthly payments. By carefully choosing the right lender and understanding the terms, you can get through the process with confidence and ease.

Whether seeking a better rate or more favorable terms, the best auto refinance companies offer flexible options to suit various needs. Remember, the right refinancing choice can significantly impact your financial journey, making your auto loan more manageable and budget-friendly.

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