Can I lower my car interest rate without refinancing?
Request a loan modification
Can I lower my current car interest rate without refinancing? Unfortunately, there is no easy way to lower your current car loan APR without refinancing. The only other way you can do so is by either renegotiating your loan or paying off your loan.
One way to lower the interest rate on a car loan is to compare rates and payments terms from different sources to know all your options. Be sure to ask your current lender for a lower APR on your car loan. If you are denied a loan, inform them of your other offers and see if they will match or beat the lowest offer.
Yes, just like the price of the vehicle, the interest rate is negotiable.
Auto loan refinancing is generally a good idea if it allows you to save money on interest. But it's not always a wise financial move, especially as interest rates continue to rise, so think carefully before applying.
An affordable car payment would be one that doesn't exceed $600 a month, based on the rule of thumb that your car payment shouldn't be more than 15% of your take-home pay. If you take out a 60-month car loan at 8% APR, you should aim to take out a car loan of less than $30,000.
Credit score | Average APR, new car | Average APR, used car |
---|---|---|
Superprime: 781-850. | 5.64%. | 7.66%. |
Prime: 661-780. | 7.01%. | 9.73%. |
Nonprime: 601-660. | 9.60%. | 14.12%. |
Subprime: 501-600. | 12.28%. | 18.89%. |
An interest rate under 5% is a great rate for a 72-month auto loan. However, the best loan offers are only available to borrowers who have the best credit scores and payment histories.
Top Auto Loan Lender | Lowest APR | Loan Amount |
---|---|---|
AutoPay | 4.67%** | $2,500 to $100,000 |
PenFed Credit Union | 5.24% | $500 to $150,000 |
Auto Approve | 5.24%** | $5,000 to $85,000 |
Consumers Credit Union | 6.54% | No minimum or maximum |
Your car payment won't go down if you pay extra, but you'll pay the loan off faster. Paying extra can also save you money on interest depending on how soon you pay the loan off and how high your interest rate is.
How to renegotiate a car loan?
Call your lender to negotiate a new plan. They may be willing to help if you have a history of on-time loan payments. The lender may offer a forbearance or defer payments for a brief time, or they may offer options such as a lower interest rate or longer payment terms.
- - Research the market: Before you call your lender, do some research on what rates are available from other lenders. ...
- - Talk to the right people: ...
- - Make your case: ...
- - Call their bluff: ...
- - Use a broker:
To negotiate a car loan, start by checking your credit score and getting clear on how much car you can afford. Then, research auto loans and interest rates and get preapproved. Last, leverage your preapproval by asking lenders if they can beat its terms.
Once you know your credit score and your budget, you can start looking into auto refinance rates. If your goal is to negotiate the best possible rate, you should talk to several different lenders to ensure you're receiving competitive offers. There are several different lender options to choose from.
The downsides to auto loan refinancing can include paying lender fees and additional interest if you extend the loan term or cash out auto equity. You could also end up owing more than your car is worth.
While you might find more favorable rates advertised soon after you buy your new or used car, the downswing in your credit score means you probably won't get as favorable a rate as you would if you waited for your score to recover. The general advice is to wait at least six months before refinancing your auto loan.
If you're buying a car and are looking at an auto loan payment of $750 a month, it doesn't necessarily mean you're purchasing a luxury vehicle. The average monthly payment for new vehicles hit a record high of $730 during the first quarter of 2023, according to Edmunds.
Loan Amount | Loan Term (Years) | Estimated Fixed Monthly Payment* |
---|---|---|
$15,000 | 3 | $463.09 |
$15,000 | 5 | $311.30 |
$20,000 | 3 | $617.45 |
$20,000 | 5 | $415.07 |
Visit your My NerdWallet Settings page to see all the writers you're following. The average monthly car loan payment in the U.S. is $738 for new vehicles and $532 for used ones originated in the fourth quarter of 2023, according to credit reporting agency Experian.
Key takeaways. Your credit card APR can go up if the prime rate changes, you paid your credit card bill late, your intro APR offer ended or your credit score dropped. If your APR increases, you can work on paying down your balance or transfer your balance to a card with a low or 0 percent intro APR offer.
Is 7% APR high for car loan?
According to Experian's State of the Automotive Finance Market report, the average auto loan interest rate for new cars in 2023's fourth quarter was 7.18 percent, and 11.93 percent for used cars. Generally, the lower your score, the higher your annual percentage rate (APR) will be.
Credit Score Range | New Car Loan Rates | Used Car Loan Rates |
---|---|---|
781 to 850 | 5.64% | 7.66% |
661 to 780 | 7.01% | 9.73% |
601 to 660 | 9.60% | 14.12% |
501 to 600 | 12.28% | 18.89% |
Because of the high interest rates and risk of going upside down, most experts agree that a 72-month loan isn't an ideal choice. Experts recommend that borrowers take out a shorter loan. And for an optimal interest rate, a loan term fewer than 60 months is a better way to go. You can learn more about car loans here.
While market predictions are bullish on the funds rate — and by extension, auto loan rates — finally coming back down in 2024, it's still not a guarantee. Powell and others at the Fed remain committed to their target of 2% inflation.
NerdWallet recommends financing new cars for no more than 60 months and used cars for no more than 36 months. These maximums can help you avoid some of the negative outcomes of long-term loans.
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