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If you’re asking yourself, "Should I refinance my car loan?", consider these factors to help you decide if refinancing is the right option for you:
If you’re thinking about refinancing your car loan, you’re probably hoping to lower your monthly payment. But a lower monthly payment can sometimes mean more money out of your pocket over the life of your loan. Here are 6 tips to think about when deciding whether or not to refinance your auto loan.
1. Refinancing requirements
Each bank or lender has specific refinancing requirements, so be sure to ask about the details. For example, if you have $7,500 or more remaining on your car loan ($8,000 if the loan was made in Minnesota) and the car is less than 10 years old with fewer than 125,000 miles on it, you may be eligible to refinance with Bank of America. Our auto loan refinance calculator will show you whether refinancing can save you money.
2. Prepayment penalties
Does your current lender subject you to a prepayment penalty for paying off your loan early? Bank of America car loans don’t have such penalties, but if you're subject to one, do the math: If the amount you save by refinancing is significantly greater than the penalty, refinancing may still be a good idea.
3. Interest rates
If the interest rate you qualify for today is significantly lower than your current loan rate, it may be a good time to refinance a car.
If it’s the same or higher, it’s probably not the right time to refinance. Remember, though: If you’re a Bank of America Preferred Rewards member,
you may qualify for an interest rate discount of up to 0.50% adatext .
4. Your credit score
Has your credit score changed since your original car loan? If it’s improved, your better score may help you qualify for a lower interest rate. Learn how to improve your credit score
5. Your income
Refinancing your auto loan so you have a lower monthly payment can make sense if your income has dipped. The lower payment can help ease the strain on your monthly budget — and if you don’t have one, think about creating a budget so you can better control all your finances.
6. Time remaining on your loan
Refinancing and extending your loan term can lower your payments and keep more money in your pocket each month — but you may pay more in interest in the long run. On the other hand, refinancing to a lower interest rate at the same or shorter term as you have now will help you pay less overall.
If your answer to “When should I refinance my car loan?” is “Soon,” review our current refinance rates and take a look at our auto loan refinance calculator to get a better understanding of whether refinancing makes sense for you.
