What You Need To Know Before Refinancing A Vehicle

Written by Jon Nigbor // December 24, 2011 // 0 Comments

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Refinancing a vehicle is a big task for many people. It involves lots of research, commitment, and thinking. Since you are in the position of refinancing your vehicle, there probably have been some rough patches before the decision to refinance your vehicle was made.

However, after knowing a few good tips, you can be well on your way to getting a good deal with your refinanced vehicle. The goal by refinancing your vehicle is to lower your interest rate, extend your current loan term or lower your monthly payment. You should keep this in mind when you are reading the tips.

Always having a goal and sticking to achieving that goal is one of the best ways to be successful at whatever you are doing. Now that you know the basics, let’s get started on What you Need to Know Before Refinancing a Vehicle.

1. Research
It is vitally important to know what you are getting yourself into before you sign on the dotted line. Make sure that you choose a reliable place to refinance your vehicle and read the fine print. Do some online research on the company you are working with to know more about them.

Read reviews about them and know the deals that they have given to previous customers. Also choose a company that will fit your needs better. If there is a company that specializes in the area you are looking for, opt for them instead of the most popular. Overall, just make sure that you choose a company that fits you, not the ones who make funny commercials.

2. Know the requirements
Different companies have minimum basics that they require before they will even consider you for a refinanced loan. If your car, payment history, or credit does not fall in their requirements, they will not accept you.

That is why you need to know all the information about your car and about your credit history. Websites such as freecreditreport.com will help you find out your credit score if you do not know it. This is important because some companies will not help you refinance if your credit score does not fall in a certain range.

Other requirements that some companies have include lists such that, “The vehicle to refinance cannot be more than 5 years old and currently must have mileage that is less than 70,000 miles.” As well as, “ You have made on-time monthly payments to your current auto loan lender for at least the previous 6 months”. Or, “Older vehicles and higher mileage will result in shorter loan terms on a new loan.”

Or, “*A refinance of your current loan can only include your total amount currently owed on the vehicle. The loan amount must stay within the current blue book value of the vehicle up to 120% MSRV. Check the blue book retail value of your car to make sure the value of the vehicle exceeds the amount you owe.” Make sure that you fall into the requirements or you will not be able to get refinancing on your vehicle.

3. Timing
Timing is very important when refinancing. If you originally financed for your car during high interest rates, it is best to refinance. If your credit score has gone up by at least 55 points, then you should refinance. This is because you would be getting a better deal if you refinanced than what you are currently paying, and it is only fair to pay a price that would be beneficial for your budget and economic status.

Overall, stay informed of information about creditors and yourself you get the best deal when refinancing for a vehicle.

If you happen to live in, or near Portland, Oregon, you can also seek out the help of a great company who has helped hundreds of people locally to get that much needed car loan. The company is called Smartway Advisors and they help people with no credit, bad credit, low credit scores or in financial recovery after bankruptcy.

In fact, speaking of credit scores, they do not use your credit score, or as it is normally called, your FICO score. Rather, they sit with you for about an hour on average and go over your financial ability to pay for a loan and then match your earning ability with a loan that fits.

Smartway Advisors works differently than most financial lenders. They will find the lowest interest rate available for you, usually through their financial partners, Unitus Community Credit Union or TwinStar Credit Union, and help you through the entire process. That means no Big Bank bills – but rather a local credit union is the lender.

And at Smartway Advisors, their on-staff trained financial advisors becomes your advocate and gateway to that much needed loan. So give them a call today if you find yourself in the same predicament that many others are in – needing a car but not able to avoid the high interest rates.

Smartway Advisors – 6700 NE 79th Court – Portland, OR 97218 – 503-567-9977

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