How fast can you refinance a car

We did a full write-up detailing three reasons you might want to refinance. Additionally, read our guide covering what refinancing might do for you.

When you refinance a car, you replace your current car loan with a new loan of different terms. In practice, auto refinancing is the process of paying off your current car loan with a new one, usually from a new lender. If you wish your auto loan payment were a bit lower, you may be inclined to try to find your way out of the deal, even if it means trading down or starting over.

Depending on the vehicle and your financial situation, that might be the best option. But you should first consider refinancing your auto loan.

If you have determined that refinancing your auto loan is the right move at the right time, it is wise to understand the impact an auto loan refinance will have on your credit report. In the short term, the hard credit inquiries registered by new finance sources will lower your score by a few points.

January 14, Getting a Good Deal. Your Payment History. At IFS, we use the following rules of thumb to guide customers on when to refinance their auto loans: Wait at least days from getting your original loan to refinance.

Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money. If you recently bought a car, you may wonder when you can refinance your car loan to reduce the interest rate or lower the payment. Strictly speaking, you can refinance your auto loan as soon as you find a lender that will approve the new loan. Delayed lender approval can be an obstacle to refinancing your car loan, but there are potential benefits to waiting. Here are some general guidelines to help you determine the best time to refinance.

It usually takes at least two to three months for your vehicle title to transfer from the manufacturer or previous owner to your current lender. So waiting will give you the opportunity to apply and be considered by more lenders. When you applied for the original loan, the hard inquiry on your credit report may have caused a temporary small drop in your credit score. This drop could result in a higher interest rate on your new loan.

Unless you already have good or excellent credit a FICO score of or higher , you'll benefit from waiting for your credit score to recover. A lower rate can save you thousands of dollars over the life of your loan. The higher your credit score, the more likely you are to land a low interest rate and favorable loan terms. Be sure to check your credit report for any errors and dispute incorrect information. Keep in mind that if you extend your car loan term , your car will likely cost you more in the long run.

Some banks, credit unions , and other lenders reward loyal customers with low rates. They may also offer special deals to attract new customers, especially those unhappy with the car loan they got at their local dealership.

Many lenders will require you to wait at least one month before refinancing, along with their specific requirements to take out a new loan. Some lenders may require three to six months of on-time payments before refinancing.

Believe it or not, you may be able to refinance right after you buy your car. There is no set amount of times you can legally refinance your car. However, each lender may have its own rules. You can always enter your desired loan terms into an online debt repayment calculator to see if refinancing could reduce your monthly payments and how much your total interest cost could decrease. Refinancing your auto loan means paying off your existing loan early.

This could be a problem if your existing loan contract includes a prepayment penalty clause. Before applying for auto refinancing, make sure to crunch the numbers so you can determine whether prepayment fees would cancel out the financial benefit of refinancing.

Your credit scores are a factor in determining your auto loan rate. Not sure if your scores have improved? On Credit Karma, you can get your free VantageScore 3. So time is of the essence. Capital One, for example, only refinances loans for vehicles that are seven years old or newer.

If your car is relatively new and still has equity, now could be a good time to refinance. Each lender has a variety of requirements. It can be difficult to sort through them all, but Credit Karma can help you narrow down some of the options.