auto refinance

 auto refinance

 An auto refinance loan is a secured loan used to pay the existing balance on a current car loan. The car is used as collateral for the new refinanced loan. The refinanced car loan has a fixed interest rate and fixed monthly payments for a set period of time
With interest rates remaining so low, an auto refinance may have crossed your mind -- and it could be a good idea.

Doing so could save hundreds of dollars each year and sometimes thousands over the life of the loan.

If your current car loan interest rate is above 6%, you might want to investigate refinancing.
 Check Auto Loan Rates

Unlike refinancing your mortgage or even consolidating credit card balances, refinancing your vehicle loan is usually quick, easy and painless. No appraisal will be required. And usually there are minimal, if any, fees.

But refinancing is not for everyone. It makes sense if, since the original loan, you find yourself in one or more of these five situations:
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    Interest rates have dropped. If interest rates have dropped more than a couple of points since purchasing your vehicle, you could save some money. In this case, loans at refi rates are considered used car loans and as such, the rates usually are higher than new car loans. Remember, even a percentage point or 2 can make a big difference over the life of the loan.
    Your credit score has improved. If you had a few negatives on your credit report -- or had no history of credit -- when you bought your car, but your credit is healthier now, you may qualify for a lower interest rate. Interest rates of 18% or more for consumers with a thin credit history are common. Several months of on-time payments could entice a lender to refinance that loan at a lower rate. Steve Schooff, a former spokesman for Capital One Auto Finance, says consumers should check their credit scores before refinancing.

    Your credit score has a major influence on auto loan rates. Get your score for free at myBankrate.
    You didn't get your best rate when you purchased. Just because you had a high credit score and unblemished credit history doesn't mean you got the best rate you could have received when you purchased the car. Dealer-sourced vehicle loans commonly carry a higher rate than the consumer deserves because the consumer simply didn't know better. The extra money is a profit source to the dealer, like rust-proofing or extended warranties. When this is discovered after the fact, it may pay to refinance.
    Your personal financial landscape has deteriorated. If you have had a financial setback and need to reduce your payments, refinancing could be a solution by increasing the loan term, thereby lowering the monthly payment.
    Your car lease is expiring and you want to purchase the vehicle. When you fulfill the terms of a lease, you typically have the option to buy the vehicle.

Finding a lender that refinances is the easiest step in the process. Credit unions do big business in vehicle loan refinancing and they have money to lend. You will need to open a checking or savings account at one if you're not already a member.

How much can you expect to save? According to Schooff, if one year ago you took a $25,000 auto loan for five years at 7.75% interest, refinancing the balance today at:

    4.75% for the remaining four years of the loan would save $1,373 -- $28.60 per month.
    5.75% for the remaining four years of the loan would save $906 -- $18.88 a month.
    6.75% for the remaining four years of the loan would save $448 -- $9.33 a month.

Refinancing isn't an option for everyone. If the vehicle is worth less than the loan balance (upside down), a lender probably won't take the chance and at the same time lower your interest rate. You can determine the current value of the vehicle through Kelley Blue Book, or KBB.com, Edmunds.com or AutoTrader.com.

Other requirements may also disqualify you, such as the age of the vehicle and the outstanding balance to be refinanced. Capital One Auto Finance, for example, will not refinance a vehicle more than 7 years old; the amount of the loan can be no less than $7,500 and no more than $40,000.

It's important, Schooff says, "that consumers determine if their current auto loan has any penalties for paying off the loan early. This will impact how much they can save from refinancing."

Call your lender and request the current payoff amount of your loan. This is the amount of money you need to refinance. It is also the figure you'll compare against the vehicle's value to determine if the vehicle is worth more than the amount you need to borrow.

There is no required amount of time from the date of the original loan until you can refinance. Actually, because of the way most auto loans are structured, the majority of the interest is paid during the first half of the term of the loan. The younger the current loan is, the more money refinancing will usually save.

Once you know your payoff, you can determine how much refinancing can save each month by using Bankrate's auto loan calculator to find your new payment, then subtract it from your existing payment.

Because most refinancing loans are fairly straightforward, decisions are usually made quickly. Schooff says Capital One Auto Finance typically gives the consumer a decision by email within 24 hours of submitting the online application.

If you find yourself upside down in your car loan and for personal reasons need to lower your payment, you may be able to persuade your current lender to modify your loan, lowering the monthly payments by extending the term of the loan or reducing the interest rate.

It's important to act before your payments fall behind. The earlier you open communications with your lender, the better the chance of coming to an arrangement.