Let's face it: we live in a credit-based society. You need credit to do just about anything from purchasing an appliance to buying a house. We also live in a society where in many places owning a car is almost a necessity. Since the economy is so difficult these days and it can be so hard to keep a solid credit rating, many folks obtain financing for a vehicle at less-than-ideal interest rates. There are, however, situations in which it can be advantageous to seek a refinance deal for your auto loan.
The economy is in flux right now, with interest rates on a trampoline of up and down. If you can catch it at just the right time, when rates are at a low point or down swing, you could save significant money on your monthly payments. This works in a few ways. Firstly, the obvious: rates have gone down. If you financed at 11% and rates have dropped by 4 points, you could refinance at 8% or less, saving at least 3% on your overall payments. Remember, though, that refinancing your auto loan generally counts as used car loans rather than new, so even if you purchased your car new, it will now be financed otherwise, which means slightly higher rates overall.
It's possible that when you purchased your car your credit score was less than ideal. Perhaps it was your first big purchase and you had no credit score to speak of. Perhaps, like many folks, you simply had a few black marks on your credit rating—a missed bill here, a late payment there. Now, however, several years have passed and you've gotten your credit score in top shape. It might be an ideal time to refinance, as with a higher credit score you'll most definitely score a more advantageous loan rate.
Perhaps you've taken on a lease agreement, to take advantage of lower monthly payments, but now your lease is up and you want to buy the car outright. This is almost always an option, but standard agreements continue the payment structure as it was, which may not always be the best interest rate. You might want to look at other options for refinancing—the dealer may not renegotiate the rate, but third-party lenders can often be a source of lower-interest loans that can be used to buy your vehicle at the end of a lease.