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Understanding Costs of Refinancing a Car

Written by Marc Guberti

Marc Guberti is a Certified Personal Finance Counselor who has been a finance freelance writer
for five years. He has covered personal finance, investing, banking, credit cards, business
financing, and other topics.
Marc’s work has appeared in US News & World Report, USA Today, Investor Place, and other
publications. He graduated from Fordham University with a finance degree and resides in
Scarsdale, New York.
When he’s not writing, Marc enjoys spending time with the family and watching movies with
them (mostly from the 1930s and 40s). Marc is an avid runner who aims to run over 100
marathons in his lifetime.

Updated January 1, 2024​

4 min. read​

Do you want a more affordable monthly payment on your car loan? Or maybe your interest rate was high when you initially got the loan, and you believe there are better options out there? Either way, you can refinance your car loan to lower your payment or get more competitive loan terms. But refinancing comes at a cost, and you should run the numbers to determine if it’s a wise financial decision for you.

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Is Car Refinancing a Good Option for You?

Refinancing isn’t for everyone. It’s a big decision that depends on your finances and a few factors that are out of your control. Refinancing your car loan may be a good idea in these scenarios:

  • Interest Rates Have Gone Down: If market conditions have changed since you got your current loan, there’s a chance interest rates have gone down. To illustrate, assume you took out a $35,000, 48-month auto loan with a 6 percent interest rate. Your original monthly payment would be $822. Now, suppose you refinance into a new loan with the same repayment period once the balance reaches $27,000 to get a 3 percent interest rate. The monthly payment amount would drop to $619.76, which equates to a cost savings of $202.24 per month.
  • You Have Improved Your Credit Score: It’s also possible that your interest rate could be lower if your credit score has improved. A higher credit score makes you less risky to lenders, and this setup can provide you with a lower rate. You should also examine how loan rates have changed. A significant increase in your credit score may offset higher interest rates.
  • You Want to Switch Lenders: If your current lender isn’t quite working for you, refinancing is a simple way to take your business elsewhere. You can refinance with the same lender, but you may find better terms with another financial institution, credit union, or online lender.
  • You want to modify who’s on the loan: Some lenders allow you to remove or add a co-borrower to your car loan when you refinance. Borrowers can also remove co-signers from their loans using this method.
  • You Want Lower Monthly Payments: Your new lender will likely extend your current loan term to lower the monthly payment when you refinance. The extended loan term spreads your monthly payments across more intervals, allowing you to secure more room in your monthly budget. While the new amount could work for your budget, the loan could cost you more in interest over time unless you snag a lower interest rate and go for a shorter term.
  • You Want to Get Out of Debt Sooner: It’s possible to refinance your loan to shorten its duration or make some of the payment upfront. These strategies increase your monthly payment but also get you out of debt sooner. Some people want the ease of knowing they will have one less financial obligation in their monthly budget.
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Typical Car Refinancing Costs

Before you apply for auto loan refinancing, there are some costs to consider. These costs can wipe out your profits if you are not careful. But, on the other hand, a refinance can put you in the red if it has too many costs:

Early Termination Fee

Some lenders will penalize you for paying off your car loan early, even if it’s through refinancing. This expense is also known as the prepayment penalty.

Transaction Fee

You could incur transaction fees from your old and new lenders when you refinance your auto loan.

Registration Fee

Depending on what state you currently live in, you may have to register your vehicle again when refinancing your ride.

Title Transfer Fee

You could also be hit with a title transfer fee to give the new lender possession of the title.

When It’s Not a Good Idea to Get a Car Refinance

Every financial product has pros and cons, and it’s not a good idea to only be aware of one side of the argument. However, understanding the disadvantages of car refinancing can help you weigh if this loan is a good idea for you. Here are some concerns that may show up:

  • Higher costs: A refinance can save you money, but those extra costs can wipe out your profits. You should calculate the return from a refinance and deduct the expenses to determine if you still break even or make a profit. Car refinances are typically better when you still have a high balance. That’s more money subject to the lower interest rate.
  • More interest payments: If you extend the life of your loan, you will make additional interest payments. These payments do not get you closer to owning your car debt-free. If you want to get out of debt sooner, it may be better to stick with your current loan. Borrowers with higher incomes may consider shortening the loan’s duration to speed up the debt repayment process.
  • The original loan has good terms: Some borrowers had good credit scores and secured auto loans when interest rates were at their historical lows. It can take a long time for interest rates to return to those levels if they ever do. It may be worth holding onto the original loan to keep the low interest rate.
  • The car is worth less than the loan: A new lender may require you to pay gap insurance to compensate for this difference. That will increase your total costs and can also result in a higher interest rate.
  • Your car is used and has a lot of miles: Used cars, especially vehicles with many miles, are riskier for lenders. This translates into higher interest rates and lower approval odds for borrowers.
  • Your remaining balance is very little: Smaller balances are easier to pay off, and it’s also more difficult to profit from a refinance on a smaller loan.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Does refinancing a car hurt your credit?

Refinancing your car results in a hard credit check. This event will decrease your credit score by a few points. It is easy to recover from a hard credit check, but incurring several of them in a short amount of time can hurt your score in a more meaningful way. Don’t apply to multiple lenders right away. Do your research and determine what you want before submitting applications.

How soon can you refinance your car loan?

You can technically refinance your car loan immediately. However, it’s not a good idea to do so. Most borrowers should wait at least 6-12 months before refinancing their auto loans. That way, you can pay off some of the balance and be closer to zero debt. In addition, the fees won’t be as high if you wait before refinancing.

Can I refinance my car with the same lender?

Yes. If you like your current lender, you can refinance with them. However, you should look around before sticking with the status quo. It can make sense to stick with your lender, but multiple lenders would be happy to work with you. Some lenders may offer more attractive terms than your current lender.

How many times can you refinance an auto loan?

There is no legal limit to how many times you can refinance a car loan. However, the objective of taking out a loan is to pay it off eventually. A refinance can make monthly payments more manageable and assist with your goals. Becoming reliant on refinancing can create the opposite effect and result in unnecessary fees if you do it too often.

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