Auto Refinancing FAQs | Capital One (2024)

How auto refinancing works

  • Step 1: Pre-qualify. Submit a pre-qualification request with no impact to your credit score. If you pre-qualify, you can browse your auto refinancing offers and savings with no obligation to move forward.
  • Step 2: Choose your offer and submit your credit application. If you like an offer, move forward with a credit application. This will result in a hard inquiry on your credit report and will impact your credit score.
  • Step 3: Sign your contract. Sign your contract and confirm your current lender information.
  • Step 4: Finalize. We’ll pay off your current lender, update your title documents (you may need to mail your title to us, depending on your state) and let you know if we need anything else.

Visit our FAQs to learn more about Capital One Auto Refinance.

Personal requirements
To pre-qualify for refinancing, all applicants must be at least 18 years of age and must not be deceased or imprisoned. Applicants must have a valid physical street address within the contiguous United States (addresses in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, etc. are not eligible). P.O. box addresses are not eligible for refinancing (except for Army/Fleet P.O. addresses). Applicants must be in good standing (not over limit, past due or charged off) on any existing Capital One account, and on any mortgage and auto loan (including the auto loan you wish to refinance). There must be no material changes to your credit in the last 90 days, including, but not limited to, becoming delinquent on any debt, filing for bankruptcy or foreclosing on a mortgage obligation. You must not have 3 or more open Capital One Auto Finance accounts or an aggregate limit over $100,000 with Capital One. There is a minimum monthly income requirement of $1,500, and your income must be sufficiently greater than your monthly debt obligations and living expenses. We must be able to verify each applicant’s identity as required by law and to obtain each applicant’s credit report.

Applicants must not have an open bankruptcy at the time of refinance pre-qualification and credit application, a bankruptcy discharged after opening the loan sought to be refinanced, and must not have had a dismissed bankruptcy after or within the 5 years prior to opening the loan sought to be refinanced.

Pre-qualification terms
Pre-qualification does not guarantee that you will receive financing or any particular financing terms, which are subject to change based on our evaluation of your credit application and any required documents. Your monthly payment and amount financed may vary depending on when your loan is finalized, your first payment due date and what we find when verifying your information. Your pre-qualification expires 30 days from the date your pre-qualification request is received. You may use your pre-qualification on the expiration date, but not on any day thereafter. After pre-qualification, you will have at least 15 days from when you submit your credit application to provide any required information or documents and to sign your contract. If your offer expires before you are ready to refinance, please submit another pre-qualification request to check your eligibility for a new offer.

Pre-filled information
If you are currently a Capital One customer, you may have the option to pre-fill certain fields of your pre-qualification request using information you have previously provided to Capital One, including, but not limited to, name, address and contact information. Capital One does not guarantee that any pre-filled information is current, complete or accurate. You should independently verify the accuracy of any pre-filled information. Capital One may require additional verification to prove that any information provided in your pre-qualification request, including pre-filled information, is accurate.

Vehicle requirements and restrictions
Capital One Auto Finance only refinances cars, light trucks, minivans and SUVs that will be used for personal use. Vehicles must be no older than 10 years and have an established resale value. Capital One does not refinance the following vehicles: vehicle makes no longer in production (such as Suzuki or Isuzu), commercial vehicles, motorcycles, recreational vehicles (RVs), ATVs, boats, camper vans, motor homes, vehicles with a history of chronic malfunctions and/or manufacturer or dealer buyback vehicles (alternatively referred to as lemons), salvage title vehicles, branded title vehicles, lease buyouts or vehicles without a vehicle identification number (VIN) or title issued. We may determine a vehicle to be for commercial use or otherwise ineligible based on the model and/or information provided to us. The vehicle must be located within the contiguous United States.

Loan amount restrictions
The minimum loan amount is $7,500 and maximum loan amount is $75,000. Your maximum loan amount may be based on your income, key credit characteristics, the vehicle you are refinancing and the amount due to your current lender. Your current loan balance cannot be significantly greater than the estimated value of your vehicle.

Current loan requirements
Capital One Auto Finance only refinances loans from other financial institutions, not including Capital One subsidiaries. Your current lender needs to meet one of the following requirements: 1) is currently reporting your loan to a major credit bureau, 2) is FDIC or NCUA insured, or 3) is both Better Business Bureau-accredited and a state-registered lender or state-registered auto dealer. Most banks, credit unions and larger auto finance companies meet one or all of these requirements. We only refinance standard auto loans with only one lienholder on the vehicle title for the loan you wish to refinance. We do not refinance unsecured loans or personal loans that use a vehicle title as collateral (also known as title loans). You must refinance the full payoff amount of your current auto loan subject to our minimum and maximum loan amounts. We do not offer cash-back refinancing or lease buyouts.

GAP insurance and other products
We will pay off your current auto loan only and will not finance new GAP or other coverage to cover any canceled coverage due to refinancing. To determine if your existing GAP policy or any other coverage terminates upon refinancing, check your corresponding agreement or contact the provider directly.

Documentation requirements
Required documentation varies, and you may be asked to provide some or all of what is listed below. These documents may include:

  • Pay stubs or bank statements to verify your income and/or employment
  • Insurance, lease agreement or mortgage statement to verify your residence
  • Vehicle title
  • Power of attorney or title authorization to allow us to file the lien in favor of Capital One Auto Finance.

To avoid processing delays, please be sure to include your reference number when sending documentation to us.

Annual percentage rate (APR)
Pre-qualified financing terms depend on the individual’s credit and key financing characteristics, including but not limited to amount financed, term, loan-to-value (LTV) ratio and vehicle characteristics. A representative example of payment terms are as follows: A loan amount of $25,000 with an APR of 9.50% and a term of 60 months would have a monthly payment of $525.05. No down payment required. Advertised rates are subject to change without notice. Your actual APR will be based on your specific situation. If you decide to refinance for a longer term length, that may increase the total amount paid when compared to your current loan.

Advertised and pre-qualified, estimated savings
Lifetime Savings: Advertised lifetime savings are based on the average expected reduction in total lifetime payments our customers experience over the life of their loan compared to their prior lifetime payments, assuming all payments are made on time. Pre-qualified customers may see estimated lifetime savings based on the current loan information they provide as well as loan information we receive from a credit reporting agency. Your actual savings may vary.

1Monthly Savings: Advertised monthly savings are based on the average expected reduction in monthly payments our customers experience with their new loan compared to their prior loan payments, assuming all payments are made on time. Pre-qualified customers may see estimated monthly savings based on the current loan information they provide as well as loan information we receive from a credit reporting agency. Your actual savings may vary.

29 out of 10 eligible pre-approved applicants are later approved
On average, 9 out of 10 eligible pre-approved applicants are later approved for auto refinancing. This excludes customers who do not meet all eligibility criteria stated on their offers.

Ratings and reviews
Customer reviews are submitted by validated Capital One customers who refinance using Capital One. Some product ratings and reviews may be obtained from customers with different versions of the product displayed above. To see what other customers are saying, please visit our website.

Top-rated mobile app
The Capital One Mobile app has a 4.9/5-star customer rating on the App Store and a 4.6/5-star customer rating on Google Play; both are in the top 10% in the Finance App category as of 11/02/2022.

Third-party information
Capital One uses third-party information to enhance your auto refinancing experience. Third-party information includes, but is not limited to, VIN and vehicle year, make and model, as well as your current loan information. Capital One does not guarantee that third-party information is accurate, current, complete or reliable and assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of third-party information. You should independently verify the accuracy of any third-party information. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

For information on how to dispute your credit report information, please visit our Help Center.

Wisconsin residents
No provision of any marital property agreement, unilateral statement or court order applying to marital property will adversely affect a creditor’s interests unless, prior to the time credit is granted, the creditor is furnished with a copy of the agreement, statement or court order, or has actual knowledge of the provision. If the auto refinance loan for which you are applying is granted, you will notify the bank if you have a spouse who needs to receive notification that credit has been extended to you.

Military Lending Act (MLA)

Federal law provides important protections to members of the Armed Forces and their dependents relating to extensions of consumer credit. In general, the cost of consumer credit to a member of the Armed Forces and his or her dependent may not exceed an annual percentage rate of 36 percent. This rate must include, as applicable to the credit transaction or account: The costs associated with credit insurance premiums; fees for ancillary products sold in connection with the credit transaction; any application fee charged (other than certain application fees for specified credit transactions or accounts); and any participation fee charged (other than certain participation fees for a credit card account).

Privacy
For more information around consumer data collection concerning the California Consumer Protection Act (CCPA),please visit our Privacy page.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT PROCEDURES FOR APPLYING FOR CREDIT
To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each person who opens an account. What this means to you: When you apply for credit, we will ask for your name, address, date of birth and other information that will allow us to identify you.

Auto Refinancing FAQs | Capital One (2024)

FAQs

Is Capital One good to refinance auto loans? ›

We rate Capital One auto refinance an 8.3 out of 10.0. The financial institution is reputable, established and offers large loan amounts for car refinance. While the company has negative reviews on the BBB, this number is low and insignificant to the amount of business the company produces.

Why can't I refinance my Capital One auto loan? ›

There must be no material changes to your credit in the last 90 days, including, but not limited to, becoming delinquent on any debt, filing for bankruptcy or foreclosing on a mortgage obligation. You must not have 3 or more open Capital One Auto Finance accounts or an aggregate limit over $100,000 with Capital One.

What to avoid when refinancing a car? ›

6 Mistakes to Avoid When Refinancing Your Car Loan
  1. Extending the Loan Term Too Long. ...
  2. Not Shopping Around for the Best Offer. ...
  3. Not Checking Your Credit Score. ...
  4. Being Upside Down on Your Loan. ...
  5. Refinancing Too Early or Too Late in the Term of Your Existing Loan. ...
  6. Getting Stuck with Penalties from Your Existing Lender.

How long do you have to keep an auto loan before refinancing? ›

After you buy a car, you have to wait at least 60 to 90 days before you can refinance, since it takes about this long to transfer the title to your name. Generally, it's best practice to wait to refinance a car loan for at least six to 12 months.

What is the disadvantage of refinancing a car loan? ›

You may pay more in interest. You may have to pay fees. You could increase your odds of going upside-down.

Does refinancing your car payment hurt your credit? ›

Consequently, refinancing a car loan — which involves applying for a new loan — could temporarily ding your credit score. It lowers your accounts' average age: Refinancing also lowers your average age of accounts, leading to a possible decrease in your credit score.

How to lower Capital One auto loan payment? ›

Refinancing your loan will lower your car payment depending on a few key factors, including your credit score, your current loan terms, and the current average loan rates. If your credit score has improved since you first financed your loan, you may have the opportunity to get a much better rate by refinancing.

How many car payments can you miss before repo with Capital One? ›

When you sign an auto loan, you take on the legal responsibility to make monthly payments on time and keep adequate insurance. If you become delinquent or late on the payment by more than 30 days, or if you don't have adequate insurance, the lender has the right to retrieve or repossess their property (your car).

Can you be denied an auto refinance? ›

A lender might refuse to refinance a car if your current loan is too new, if your car is too old or has too many miles on it, or if your current loan balance is too low or too high. Car age and mileage considerations may differ by lender depending on the make and model of your car.

What disqualifies you from refinancing? ›

You may find yourself underwater on your mortgage, meaning you owe more than the property is worth. In this case, it can be difficult to be approved for a refinance loan. You may also be denied if your home is in poor condition, or if you made improvements that weren't permitted by local housing authorities.

Will I owe more if I refinance my car? ›

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.

Is it better to put money down when refinancing a car? ›

A down payment will lower the value of the loan, which should lower the lender's risk. This will often improve the likelihood that you get approved for refinancing. This situation is much less common than having negative equity.

What is a good interest rate for a car for 72 months? ›

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.

Why wait 6 months to refinance a car? ›

At least 6 months into the car loan

Waiting at least six months into your loan term provides more time for your credit score to rebound from any temporary drops.

Can you pay off a 72-month car loan early? ›

Can you pay off a 72-month car loan early? Yes, you can pay off a 72- or 84-month auto loan early. Since these are long repayment terms, you could save considerable money by covering the interest related to a shorter period of time.

Is Capital One a good bank for auto loans? ›

If you have a consistent monthly income and don't mind being limited to participating dealers, Capital One may be a good choice for an auto loan. It's possible to get prequalified with a soft credit check. And the Auto Navigator tool can come in handy if you're on a tight budget.

What is the best place to refinance a car? ›

  • Alliant Credit Union. : Best auto refinance lender.
  • Navy Federal Credit Union. : Best for military families.
  • LightStream. : Best for older or high-mileage vehicles.
  • Bank of America. : Best big bank option.
  • Digital Federal Credit Union. : Best for rate discounts.
  • Autopay. ...
  • LendingClub. ...
  • Upgrade.
May 10, 2024

Will Capital One lower my auto loan interest rate? ›

Refinancing your loan will lower your car payment depending on a few key factors, including your credit score, your current loan terms, and the current average loan rates. If your credit score has improved since you first financed your loan, you may have the opportunity to get a much better rate by refinancing.

Is it good to pay off a car loan early Capital One? ›

Eliminating a car payment from your monthly budget can give you access to funds for other obligations or to put toward savings. And the relief of one less bill to pay each month could also be a plus. It would lower your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio. Paying off your loan could decrease your DTI ratio.

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