Can I ask for a lower interest rate on my car loan?

Asked by: Alysa Herzog  |  Last update: May 8, 2025
Score: 4.8/5 (12 votes)

Negotiating your interest rate can help save you hundreds or thousands of dollars over the life of the loan. Negotiating can be as simple as asking the dealer if those are the best loan terms they can offer you or by pointing out lower rates available at a competing lender.

Can I request a lower interest rate on my auto loan?

Fixed car loan rates The short answer is no. Once you qualify for and sign a car loan, you can't just renegotiate the rate you have mid-term. Rates have to be negotiated at the time you get the loan, or buy the car from the dealer.

What happens if I pay an extra $100 a month on my car loan?

No. Paying extra to principle reduces your balance immediately, cutting down the amount of interest you owe. When they apply your payment to future payments, they are just holding it in reserve waiting for your next payment to come due, and not reducing your balance or interest.

What APR is too high for a car?

Car Loan APRs by Credit Score

Excellent (750 - 850): 2.96 percent for new, 3.68 percent for used. Good (700 - 749): 4.03 percent for new, 5.53 percent for used. Fair (650 - 699): 6.75 percent for new, 10.33 percent for used. Poor (450 - 649): 12.84 percent for new, 20.43 percent for used.

Is it worth refinancing a car for a lower interest rate?

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.

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37 related questions found

How to renegotiate car loan interest rate?

Negotiating your interest rate can help save you hundreds or thousands of dollars over the life of the loan. Negotiating can be as simple as asking the dealer if those are the best loan terms they can offer you or by pointing out lower rates available at a competing lender.

Does refinancing a car hurt your credit?

Yes, refinancing your auto loan will usually hurt your credit a little. But if you make your new loan payments on time, any damage to your score will likely be both temporary and small. Your credit could bounce back to its current score in as little as a few months.

Why is my APR so high with excellent credit?

Even people with good credit scores make mistakes, and a bank may charge a penalty APR on your credit card without placing a negative mark on your credit report. Penalty APRs typically increase credit card interest rates significantly due to a late, returned or missed payment.

How to pay off a 6 year car loan in 3 years?

If you want to pay off your loan early, here are six ways to make it happen:
  1. Refinance your car loan. ...
  2. Make biweekly payments. ...
  3. Round up your payments. ...
  4. Put extra money toward a lump-sum payment. ...
  5. Continue making your monthly payments. ...
  6. Opt out of any unneeded add-ons.

What happens if I make 2 extra car payments a year?

Ideally, you want your extra payments to go towards the principal amount. However, many lenders will apply the extra payments to any interest accrued since your last payment and then apply anything left over to the principal amount. Other times, lenders may apply extra funds to next month's payment.

Is it smart to pay off a car loan early?

Paying off a car loan early can save you money on interest and improve your debt-to-income ratio. Early loan pay-off can also give you ownership of the vehicle sooner and reduce the risk of being upside-down on the loan. Before deciding to pay off your loan early, consider if your money could be better spent elsewhere.

How do I get rid of a high interest rate on my car?

Sell the Car

One way to get out of a car loan is to sell the vehicle privately. If you're not upside down on the loan, meaning the car is more valuable than what you currently owe on it, you can use the proceeds of the sale to pay off the current loan in full.

Can I ask for a lower interest rate on my loan?

Asking your lender to reduce your home loan's interest rate can be as simple as giving them a call. A home loan lender typically offers more competitive rates to new customers to attract them, so researching these rates online can be beneficial.

Do dealerships mark up interest rates?

In exchange for setting up the loan, many lenders allow the dealers to markup the interest rate and make a profit on the difference. This is called a finance reserve and although most lenders cap the markup to a maximum of 2.5%, there are some that allow dealers to add much more than that.

Will Chase lower my APR?

Chase reviews qualified accounts every 6 months and automatically lowers the APR if eligible. Chase will send a letter to notify you of any changes. Requests for a lower APR are not supported outside of this review process.

What APR should I expect with a 700 credit score?

A credit score of 700 gets you an interest rate of 3% to 6% on car loans for new cars and about 5% to 9% for second-hand cars.

How much is a $25,000 car loan a month?

Example: A six year fixed-rate loan for a $25,000 new car, with 20% down, requires a $20,000 loan. Based on a simple interest rate of 3.4% and a loan fee of $200, this loan would have 72 monthly payments of $310.54 each and an annual percentage rate (APR) of 3.74%.

Why is a major downside of a 72-month loan?

Because of the high interest rates and risk of going upside down, most experts agree that a 72-month loan isn't an ideal choice. Experts recommend that borrowers take out a shorter loan. And for an optimal interest rate, a loan term fewer than 60 months is a better way to go.

Which bank has the lowest car loan interest rate?

Top Banks like Canara Bank, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Punjab National Bank, and State Bank of India are providing the cheapest car loans. Canara Bank interest rates range from 8.80 percent to 11.95 percent. HDFC Bank car loans start from 8.75 percent. ICICI Bank car loans start at an interest rate of 8.95%.

What to avoid when refinancing a car?

Mistakes to Avoid When You Refinance Your Auto Loan
  1. Drawing It Out. While it may seem tempting to switch to a longer loan term, it usually isn't worth it in the long run. ...
  2. Going Upside-Down. ...
  3. Catching Penalties. ...
  4. Missing Payments. ...
  5. Waiting Too Long.

Can you renegotiate a car loan after signing?

Renegotiating a car loan can be possible if your credit score has improved significantly since you've signed your car loan. However, not every lender will allow you to renegotiate.

Does returning a financed car hurt your credit?

Does voluntary repossession hurt your credit? Voluntary surrender counts as a derogatory or negative mark and will stay on your credit reports for up to seven years. This stain on your credit reports might prevent you from being approved for new credit and your terms, like interest rates, will likely be higher.