Pros and Cons of Refinancing a Car Loan

Many people who are paying car loans think about refinancing them. Car loans can be a difficult burden at times. Refinancing the loan might be able to help, but it’s important that you know the pros and cons before doing it.

Pro: Better Interest Rate

The best case scenario when refinancing your loan is that your overall interest rate will decrease. You will want to check the auto refinancing rates before signing your name on the dotted line, but this will help you save money and pay less overall for your car.

According to Lantern by SoFi, “Depending on individual financial situations, applicants could qualify for a lower interest rate through refinancing.” If you have great credit, high income, are a reliable lender and have other good financial qualities, then you could qualify for a lower interest rate. Even if you don’t, it’s good to check as you might be able to save money.

Con: Higher Overall Payments

This depends heavily on your refinanced loan. Some new loans will give you a lower interest rate, which reduces your monthly payments, but the loan is set to take longer to pay off. If your current loan has 20 percent interest and is due in 36 months and your new loan is 15 percent interest and is due in 60 months, then you will end up paying more with the new loan.

Be sure to run the numbers before settling on the loan. Many new loans allow you to pay less overall, but this is a possible outcome depending on your individual factors.

Pro: Borrow Extra Money

Some people find that they are able to borrow extra money after refinancing their car. This is because your car is an asset and assets have equity depending on their value. Lenders will calculate the loan-to-value ratio when refinancing your loan. If your car has a higher value, then you may qualify for a bigger loan.

You can use this money to pay credit card debts, other loans and any other expenses that you might have. Some even use the extra money on their car loan to reduce how much you’ll pay overall.

Con: Refinancing Fees

This is somewhat common, but it depends on the lender and the financial conditions. A good percentage of lenders will charge refinancing fees when creating your new loan. Some charge a flat fee while others charge a percentage of the loan. These fees are usually small, but they do reduce your savings.

If you are worried about these fees, then be sure to check the lender as many are upfront about whether they will charge these or not. If your individual factors make you very reliable or if lenders want to take on more clients, then there is a lower chance of being charged fees.

Conclusion

Refinancing your car loan is a great way to save money and reduce your monthly payments, but there are pros and cons to consider before doing it. Be sure to consider what you want from the loan and run your own numbers before settling on a lender.