Car Loans: When To Refinance

If you are considering refinancing your car, you should only do so for the following three reasons:

1) A better interest rate is a very good reason to refinance your auto loan. You should refinance if your new interest rate will be at least 1% less and especially if you will be getting an interest rate that is 3-4% less than your current interest rate. If refinancing will only get you a new interest rate that is less than 1% better, you shouldn't waste your time. It probably seems like going from 6.25% to 5.99% is a big difference, but it is less than 1%. Since the difference is smaller than 1%, the benefit you will get from refinancing is so small that you shouldn't even waste your time.

2) Not being able to make payments on your car loan is another reason you should refinance. If you can't afford the payments and may default on your loan, definitely refinance. If there is a possibility that your car will be repossessed in the next couple months, refinance as soon as you can if this will prevent repossession.

3) The third reason you should refinance your car is to prevent defaulting on your home loan. If the payments on your auto loan are so high that you cannot afford to make mortgage payments, you must consider refinancing your car loan. If refinancing will lower your car payments, you will have more money to put towards your mortgage payments.

However, if you're thinking about getting equity out of your car so you can get money to pay other bills, you should know that this is NOT a good reason to refinance. Cars do not have equity since they are depreciating assets, and each day they are worth less than the day before.

Banks sometimes offer "car equity loans," but don't get sucked it. Even if your car is worth more than you owe right now, that won't last long. Borrowing against any equity you have today is always a mistake - all you're doing is stealing from your own future by adding more payments to your current loan. Would you rather make an extra two years of payments on your car so that you can have an extra $100 today? Probably not.

If you do choose to refinance for extra cash now, you will regret doing so in two or three years when you are making those extra couple years of payments. The only reason you should refinance is if you are at risk of defaulting on a major asset.

If refinancing is necessary, be sure to keep in mind:

Don't pay any fees unless they're minor (such as the $20 your bank may charge for a new title or lien). Walk away from "refinancing fees" and "loan origination fees," and other charges along that line. The bank should be happy for your business and shouldn't charge you for it.

Never add more time to your car loan unless you are desperate to have your payments lowered. You shouldn't refinance using another five-year loan if you originally financed your car using a five-year loan two or three years ago. In a case like this, the only thing refinancing has done is increased the amount of time you will have to pay on your car. If possible, refinance using a loan that will end when your original loan would have ended.

Always check with your credit union. Not only do credit unions want to help you, they usually have excellent rates. They will work with you more than a regular bank will, especially if you are in a situation where you may default on your loan.

Article Source: http://www.search4allinfo.com

Author Jason Lancaster, an auto business veteran, developed AccurateAutoAdvice.com. You'll find accurate advice on refinancing an auto loan and how to refinance your car.

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