For some drivers, refinancing their car loan may be a good idea.
When you refinance an auto loan, you are essentially replacing your current car loan with a new one. Your new auto loan will pay off your old one, resulting in a completely new loan agreement, which will include a new annual percentage rate (APR), which is your interest rate, and a new loan term, which is the amount of time you have to pay back the loan.
There are a variety of reasons why a driver might want to refinance a car loan, but the most common reason is to save money. Refinancing from a loan with a high-interest rate to one with a lower interest rate can be a good way to save money. If your monthly loan payments are becoming prohibitively expensive, refinancing to an auto loan with a longer loan term may result in lower monthly payments, but it may also result in higher overall loan costs throughout the loan.
What exactly is a car loan?
A car loan is a type of secured loan that is used to assist you in the purchase of a vehicle. Car loans operate in a similar way to other types of loans: an institution agrees to lend you money to purchase a car, and you agree to repay that amount over time, plus interest. It is possible to obtain a car loan directly from a bank or a credit union, or it is possible to obtain one through a car dealership.
Advantages of refinancing a car loan
Refinance car loan makes financial sense for some drivers. Some of the advantages of refinancing your auto loan are as follows:
Being able to obtain a lower interest rate
This may be the most obvious reason to refinance your property. If interest rates have fallen since you took out your car loan, it may make financial sense to refinance. Even if it appears to be a minor difference, a loan with a lower interest rate can save you a significant amount of money throughout your loan.
If your credit score has significantly improved since you took out your loan, you may be able to negotiate a lower interest rate.
Better credit scores translate into better loan offers, so if your financial situation has improved since you took out your car loan; consider shopping around to see if you qualify for lower interest rates.
Obtaining a longer-term agreement
Although it is unlikely that you will be able to refinance for a lower interest rate, if your monthly payments are becoming too high, you may want to consider refinancing with a new loan that has a longer-term.
It is not possible to save money by extending your loan term from 36 months to 72 months because longer-term lengths usually result in you paying more over the life of the loan. However, you can save money by lowering your monthly payments. Lower monthly payments may be beneficial if you’re having difficulty keeping your head above water each month.
Discounts that may be available
Depending on the bank, existing customers who choose to refinance their car loan may be eligible for special discounts. Ask your current bank if they can provide you with special rates on refinancing your auto loan.
The disadvantages of refinancing an automobile loan
As previously stated, while refinancing an auto loan can be a good way to save money, it is not always a win-win situation for all drivers. There are some drawbacks to refinancing an auto loan, including the following:
It is not appropriate for everyone.
If you can save money by refinancing your auto loan, it makes sense to do so; however, it is not appropriate for everyone. If you’re nearing the end of your current auto loan’s repayment period, refinancing to a loan with a lower interest rate will not save you much money because you’ve already paid the vast majority of the interest.
Refinancing may also be subject to certain restrictions imposed by lenders. In some cases, such as when your vehicle has a certain number of miles on it or when it is more than ten years old, some banks and other lending institutions will not refinance your loan.