Does trading in a financed car hurt your credit?

Asked by: Prof. Nakia Goldner  |  Last update: February 14, 2024
Score: 5/5 (12 votes)

So, you can find out the value of your car and sell it to the dealer without thinking about your credit. If you are selling or trading in your car for another model, though, and are planning on financing, the inquiry process can impact your score. However, the vehicle trade-in itself carries no weight.

Is it a good idea to trade in a financed car?

Trading in a car generally helps you reduce how much you'll need to borrow when buying another vehicle, but if you have a balance on your current auto loan, you may be encouraged to roll your existing balance into a new loan, which will increase your total loan costs and the interest you'll pay over the life of your ...

What happens when you trade a car in that you still owe on?

The dealership contacts your lender: In most cases, the dealership will contact your lender and pay off your original loan in full using your trade-in value as the credit. If you still owe money after the trade-in credit is applied, that amount will get rolled over into your next car loan and added to the balance.

What happens if you trade in a car that isn't paid off?

If your car is worth less than what you still owe, you have a negative equity car also known as being “upside-down” or “underwater” on your car loan. When trading in a car with negative equity, you'll have to pay the difference between the loan balance and the trade-in value. You can pay it with cash.

Will selling my financed car hurt my credit?

Does selling a financed car hurt your credit? If you owe more than your car is worth, you could hurt your credit by taking out a personal loan to pay your car loan off. But if you have positive equity, the sale will pay for the entire loan balance and your credit score won't be negatively affected.

Car payoff pain: How trading in your car can hurt your credit

41 related questions found

How can I get out of a car loan without destroying my credit?

You can sell your car to get rid of it without hurting your credit. This is easiest if the value of your car is close to or above the balance of your loan. You could also transfer your current loan to another person if they're approved for financing and agree to take it over.

Can I trade in my financed car after 1 year?

There's no set time period for when you can trade in a car after you begin financing, but there are a few general rules to follow. You can trade a financed car at any point, but you may want to consider waiting a year or more.

Can I trade in my car if I owe $8,000?

Humble often want to know, “Can you trade in a financed car?” The answer is yes! However, keep in mind that trading your car in does not mean that you're no longer obligated to pay the remaining loan balance; you will still have to pay that remaining amount.

How long should you keep a car before trading it in?

The best mileage range to trade in a car is often between 30-40,000 miles or between two and three years old, before your new car warranties expire. You're more likely to receive a higher trade-in appraisal when it has fewer miles on it and more of its warranty left .

Can I trade in a car with 10k negative equity?

When you trade in a car with negative equity, the equity will likely roll into your new vehicle loan. Here's an example… If your current vehicle has $10,000 in negative equity and your new car costs $20,000, you will take out a $30,000 loan from the lender.

Should you tell car dealer what you owe on trade?

Eventually you will need to disclose or the dealer will need to obtain the payoff on your current loan if you trade a vehicle. But the sales person has no right to that information during the negotiation process.

What credit score do I need to trade in my car?

Fortunately, dealerships don't typically perform a credit check when you trade-in your car. The vehicle valuation step leaves lenders and credit scores out of the equation. So, you can find out the value of your car and sell it to the dealer without thinking about your credit.

Can you trade in a higher value car for a lower one?

When you trade in a car that you have equity in, the dealer will pay the remainder of the loan and subtract the equity from the price of the less expensive car. If the equity of your trade-in exceeds the price of the car your trading for, the dealer will cut you a check for the difference.

What are the cons of trading in your car?

Disadvantages of Trading in a Car
  • Fixed trade-in price may be lower than you expect.
  • You may feel you have less control of the deal.
  • Any money you recently spent on repairs isn't considered.
  • Your local dealer may not want or need your car.
  • You'll be limited to the inventory of your local dealer.

Is a trade-in better than a down payment?

When considering whether to make a down payment or trade-in a vehicle it's usually best to make a down payment from a financial perspective. You'll get more bang-for-your-buck when offering a down payment. This could mean selling your vehicle privately before going in for a purchase.

How much negative equity is too much?

How Much Negative Equity Is Too Much on a Car? The maximum negative equity that can be transferred to your new car is around 125% . It means your loan value should not be more than 125% of your car's actual worth. If it is more than 125% then your next car's loan would not be approved.

At what mileage is it best to trade in a car?

30,000 to 60,000 Miles

Your vehicle will now lose value at a significantly slower rate than in its first few years. It's a good idea to sell your car before it hits 60,000 miles if you don't want to spend a lot of money on repairs and replacement parts.

What is the best month to trade in a car?

Traditionally, April has been the best time to sell your car, but like everything else in the car market, the pandemic has changed that too, the car-buying and selling platform said. Now, the best time to sell or trade in a car is just after Labor Day, which is Monday, CarGurus said.

Is it better to fix a car before trade in?

While you can fix minor things to make your car look more presentable in order to maintain or increase the trade-in value, dealerships often deduct the value for money they will spend for reconditioning in case of major issues that aren't obvious.

Will gap insurance cover negative equity?

Does GAP insurance cover negative equity? Yes. Negative equity (aka an upside-down loan) is another term for the gap between what you owe on your auto loan and the car's actual value. GAP insurance covers the difference between the two.

How bad is negative equity on a car?

When the amount you owe on your auto loan is greater than the vehicle's value, you have a negative equity car loan. Many people refer to it as being upside down on your car loan. Cars decrease in value the minute you drive them off the car lot. A new car can possibly lose 20% of its value in the first year.

Do you lose a lot of money trading in a car?

You will get less money than selling it yourself. At best, you should expect to get the vehicle's wholesale value. You can use the trade-in amount as the down payment on the new car. To get the best price, you will probably have to haggle with an experienced salesperson over the trade-in value.

What can I do if I don't like my new car?

In most cases, you can't return a car you just bought — most dealerships won't allow it. If you're unable to return a car, there are other ways to get rid of it. You can sell it or file a lemon law claim under certain circumstances.

How long should you keep a car?

How long you should keep a car is up to you. The average length of ownership of a new vehicle in the U.S. is 8.4 years. “Average” is the operative word here. Some people trade automobiles like baseball cards, while others drive a car until the wheels fall off.

Can I refinance my car loan?

Can I refinance my car with the same lender? Yes, many lenders will allow you to refinance your existing car loan. Keep in mind that lenders may not offer refinancing as an option. Especially if your vehicle is in poor condition, has low value, or you have few payments remaining on your existing loan.