In this post, they will discuss how to calculate car refinance rates. They’ll break down the process so that it’s easy to understand and show you some examples of how this could work for you.
➥ Find out what you owe
You’ll first need to find out what you owe to get started. To do this, look at your current car loan paperwork.
- What is the amount you owe on your car loan?
- What is the interest rate on your car loan?
Next, determine how much you can save by refinancing and calculate how long it will take for those savings to pay off any closing costs associated with refinancing.
For example, the average refinancing saves about $1,000 over the life of a new auto loan and takes less than six months if you pay no closing costs at all (which is rare). The online car refinance calculator will help walk through these steps for you and give a clearer picture of whether refinancing makes sense for you or not.
➥ Analyze your current interest rate
The first step to calculating a car refinance rate is to analyze your current interest rate. The lower the interest rate, the better—and it’s easy to find your current rate by calling up your lender or checking in with them online. You’ll also want to know what APR means and how APY is calculated.
The APR stands for Annual Percentage Rate, which is a measure of how much you owe on top of the amount borrowed over time. In contrast, APY is an acronym for Annual Percentage Yield, which expresses exactly how much interest you will earn over time as well as any fees associated with borrowing money from that particular source.
➥ Check the credit score requirements of the banks you’re considering
You first need to check the credit score requirements of each bank you’re considering. The requirements will vary from one bank to another, but they generally fall between 500 and 850 points. In general, these scores are higher for applicants with lower scores than for those with higher scores.
According to Lantern by SoFi professionals, “As a more qualified borrower, you may get more favorable rates and better terms on your car loan refinance.”
➥ Compare loan offers from multiple banks
Once you’ve decided to refinance, it’s recommended to compare loan offers from multiple banks. You can do this using a car refinance calculator too.
Once you have an idea of your monthly payment and how much interest you’ll pay over the life of the loan, compare that with your current payments on an old car loan (or two). If it looks like refinancing will save you money, then go for it!
➥ Take into consideration the length of the loan and the interest rate type
The length of the loan is important in calculating car refinancing rates. A longer loan may be cheaper, but it also has more interest payments over time. The average cost of a new car is $36,000; if you take out a 60-month loan, you’ll end up paying around $20k in interest.
With these steps, you can get a good idea of your car to refinance rates and make sure you’re getting the best deal possible.