California Auto Refinancing

Learn about refinancing your car in California including how to qualify, the steps you need to take to complete the refinance process, aligning financial goals, and California refi FAQs.*

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Motor Vehicle Refinancing in California

Are you trying to refinance your automobile in your state? You have indeed found the ideal spot! We team up with automobile loan providers all over the country including in your state and can help you choose a motor vehicle refinance offer near you. Apply to see if you qualify for car loan refinancing pre-approval with our partner lenders below.

We’re happy to deal with SUV, truck, and car owners who call California home and specialize in offering refinance info for pre-owned and new vehicle owners all over the state. Whether you reside in Los Angeles, in proximity to San Francisco, near San Diego, or elsewhere in California, consult our lending partners to see if refinancing your motor vehicle will help your financial scenario.

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Auto Refinancing in Los Angeles, California

The California Auto Refinance Process

The car refinancing experience in your state can be fairly uncomplicated. To learn more, you merely have to use a handful of things. Check out the refinance process checklist shown below. You also need to satisfy several criteria for both your car or truck and yourself prior to completing your freshly refinanced auto loan.

Motor Vehicle Refi Qualification

Your vehicle in California needs to qualify for the refinancing lending financial institution’s terms. These terms can differ by lender and typically include cars which are physically located in California, were made within the last 10 years old with clean titles, have lower than 100k mileage, and have a good loan-to-value (LTV) ratio. Check with specific lenders servicing California for more information.

Individual Refi Qualification

Similar to your car or truck qualification, you also need to apply for refinancing by providing personal information like address, employer, income, and details when refinancing in your state. Lenders want to know your home address in California, where you work, how much money you make, your credit history, info about other financial obligation you may have, and other related details. They use this information for things like finalizing an opportunity evaluation regarding how prone you are to pay back the refinanced motor vehicle loan.

Calculation Disclaimer

The calculator is an estimation tool only and the estimates are provided as is without warranties or guarantees. Savings are not guaranteed. Keep in mind the new lender may have application fees, rate adjustments, underwriting processes, and other related details that the calculator’s estimate will not take into account. Check with your loan officer, qualified financial representative, or other professional if you have specific refinance questions about APR, loan details, associated fees, contract, or terms and conditions. We do not warrant that the calculator is error-free or will be available at all times or operate without interruption.

Calculation Disclaimer

California Auto Loan Refinance Calculator

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Credit Rating Qualification

Your credit rating plays a part in your capacity to refinance your vehicle. Your credit rating is a pointed measurement of your capacity to pay back your debt. It is a number which can vary as low as 300 to as high as 850. A good rating is generally considered over 650ish. You can similarly have industry-specific credit ratings which are separate from your standard credit score.

The particular credit score you need to have for a car loan differs by loan provider. They take into account many things when determining your loan suitability including both the industry-specific rating, general rating, assets, debt, income, and other information. To get the most favorable car or truck loan interest rate, you may wish to keep your credit report as high as possible and potentially take advantage of a co-borrower.

Here are some credit rating examples you can use to typically get an idea based upon your automobile ownership circumstance. For example, lending institutions might need a credit rating of 700 or higher if you are looking for a loan on a new car or truck. A credit score of over 600 may be enough if you are financing or refinancing a secondhand or previously owned car or truck. If your score qualifies, talking to loan providers or starting the application process are ways to actually see.

About Credit Score Brackets in California

Credit RatingPoints
Excellent780 to 850
Very Good720 to 779
Good680 to 719
Average580 to 679
Poor300 to 579
Credit rating brackets and point ranges come from various credit reporting sources including Experian, TransUnion and Equifax, but are not endorsed or certified by them.

Credit ranting numbers like the ones shown above can be lender specific. However, Experian also provides information on overall financing and origination trends as part of their quarterly State of the Automotive Finance Market presentation. The following categories were presented for the 2021 Q3 automotive credit vertical and lending channels. 

Credit Score CategoryPoint Range
Super Prime781 to 850
Prime661 to 780
Nonprime601 to 660
Subprime501 to 600
Deep Subprime300 to 500
These credit rating categories and point ranges come from the Experian State of the Automotive Finance Market, but are not endorsed or certified by them.

About Credit History

Credit history is a really big topic. There is far too much info to cover here, but we can cover some of the essentials. Your credit history is a record of your liabilities and financial debts together with measuring your capacity to repay them. Lenders check with credit bureaus to determine the prospect of lending you money. The lower your credit score, the greater the default danger to creditors.

Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion are the three major credit reporting bureaus. These bureaus record and track your credit info. While the credit-related information is basically the same, your credit score may differ by bureau. Lenders run credit inquiries called pulls through these bureaus to check your history if you apply for a loan.

The two types of credit inquiries are called soft credit pulls and hard credit pulls. Soft pulls help to determine your preliminary appropriateness. This report pulls your credit info to see your history. Soft pulls do not impact your credit history. Hard pulls are executed in the final approval stage of the financing process. This means you are actively trying to find a new line of credit and will affect your credit report. Take a look at some of our other credit related resources to learn more.

Auto Refinance Steps in California

There are several specific steps you can follow to start the automobile refinance process in California. You can probably refinance your vehicle loan by owning a truck, car, SUV, or other qualifying vehicle in California, having a loan on that motor vehicle, meeting lending institution requirements, and furnishing your loan and individual information. While these things are the basics of what is needed for refinancing, there may be lender-specific steps you encounter before you can complete the refi process. Check out the additional things listed below:

  1. Own a motor vehicle in California.
  2. Have an automobile loan on your car
  3. Meet suitable vehicle-related criteria like a recent year of manufacture and excellent vehicle market value
  4. Meet individual qualifying requirements which include your credit history and income
  5. Apply for automobile refinancing with a different lending institution in California
  6. When approved, they can help you get a new loan that includes a different annual percentage rate (APR) or interest rate and payment term
  7. Finish the car refi procedure for the replacement loan provider to take control of your old loan
  8. Make payment amounts to your updated car loan lender
  9. Your refinanced auto loan is complete!

Best-Selling Vehicles in California

Honda Civic EX best selling sedan in California

Did you know the best selling motor vehicles in California are Honda Civic sedans? These popular Honda sedans are the top-selling and most financed. Do you have a Honda Civic yourself? Do you also have a sedan loan on it? Are you okay with your monthly sedan payments and APR or interest rate? Learn about Honda refinancing options in California.

First Time Car Buyer Financing In California

Is it your first time purchasing an automobile in your state? You might have financed your new vehicle through the dealer, financial services department, bank, or regional credit union. Make the most of any special financing offerings at the time of your purchase. Car dealers will sometimes offer incentives to new car buyers like zero percent car deals, 0 percent down car loans, cash back deals, and team member deals.

Later when you have owned the vehicle for a while, you may be able to save money by refinancing your car and start saving money or pay your car loan off earlier by adjusting the payment term and interest rate. This depends upon your financial goals and refinance alternatives offered by loan providers.

If your objective is to start saving money every month, decreasing the interest rate can sometimes save you money on your month-to-month payments. On the other hand if your goal is to work towards paying down personal debt, reducing your loan payment term can increase your payments but make it possible for you to pay off the loan much faster.

California Auto Refinancing Rates and Trends

It’s never been a more suitable time to refinance your car, truck, SUV, or other vehicle while living in California. Historic value patterns can allow you to enjoy increased equity in your motor vehicle and may well result in more suitable auto loan terms and rate of interest. Use our car refinance calculator to see predicted savings and differences between your existing car or truck payment and calculated new refinanced payment rates.

About Auto Refinancing Pre-Approval in California

Car refinancing pre-approval helps you select and see probable refi rates much faster. The pre-approval system means financial institutions might have finished actions like examining your credit report and information, determining loan viability, and understanding who you are. A soft credit pull is often performed before you receive pre-approval status. As we learned earlier, soft inquiries do not impact your credit history.

Ready To Start The Refinance Process?

Start by thinking about your refinance goals, consider what you want to change about your auto loan, and connect with lenders.

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About Loan Repayment Assistance

There are not many avenues provided for automobile loan payment support in California. If you are having trouble settling your vehicle loan or making monthly payments consider the following choices:

  • Refinance the loan on your vehicle with the goal of saving money in mind
  • Sell off your current motor vehicle and search for a more cost effective automobile with a budget-friendly monthly payment

California Car Refinancing and Financial Goals

Everyone typically has specific monetary objectives for refinancing their car. Your financial goals can be specific to your financial planning, retirement, and taking care of your kids and family. They can take into account saving money for important things, qualifying to purchase a house, and becoming debt free.

  • Is your month-to-month car payment or interest rate excessive?
  • Does it seem like you have high-interest debt holding you back?
  • Do you wish to be free of debt and pay off your automobile faster?
  • Would saving more money allow you to pay the bills?
  • Are vehicle rates climbing in California leading to more automobile equity?

If you answered yes to any of the above questions or believe that you want to better align your personal financial goals, consider learning more about refinancing your car and reaching out to one of our refi partners to learn more. You may manage to save money. Use resources like our automobile refinance calculator, learn about the advantages of vehicle refinancing, and potentially start saving $100s by reducing your regular monthly car payments.

Find California Serving Lenders for Refinancing**

Refinance your vehicle with our California serving partner lenders. Learn how you can save money on your car payments.

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Find Car Insurance as a California Driver

Learn about insurance coverage options as a California driver and vehicle owner. Bundling insurance may save money.

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Death Valley Road in California

Love Your Car Like You Love California

Do you love where you live? If you love your state, ask yourself the following question. Do you love your vehicle loan as much as your state? Are you content with your loan’s monthly automobile payments and rate of interest or APR? If you are dissatisfied with any of the above car loan factors, there might be things you can do. Learn about options from refinance providers if you replied yes to any of these things.

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State Quick Driver and Motor Vehicle Facts

Ever wonder how many individuals reside in California or the number of licensed vehicle drivers there are on the highways in the state? The U.S. Census Bureau provides insight for these metrics and other correlated driving numbers. We can use the reported census numbers to identify the answers. This information is tracked by Census Bureau Data for 2019-2020, but it is not backed or accredited by the Census Bureau. For example, there were 27,213,650 licensed drivers in the state of California. There were also 14,894,912 cars registered. Using the 39,512,223 population, we can determine per capita ratios like 688.74 vehicle drivers and 376.97 registered automobiles per capita (1,000 people). Overall, there are 1.83 registered vehicle drivers per motor vehicle.

California by The Numbers

Estimated Population: 39,512,223Registered Automobiles: 14,894,912
Automobiles Per Capita: 376.97Licensed Drivers: 27,213,650
Drivers Per Capita: 688.74Drivers Per Automobile: 1.83
Data comes from Census Bureau Data for 2019-2020, but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Auto Refinancing Near Los Angeles, California

California Automobile Refinancing FAQs

Looking for information about automobile refinancing in California? Here are some answers to commonly asked questions! It is very important to know what you are getting into and understand how opting to refinance a motor vehicle changes your life. These FAQs can help you begin to understand what is related to refinancing your truck, SUV, or car in California.

Can I refinance my car in California?

Yes, you can refinance your truck, car, or SUV in California if you deal with an auto refi lender who services your region.

Will refinancing my car or truck in California save me money?

Perhaps. The amount of money you may save while refinancing your car in California depends on several aspects including being able to get approved for lower interest rates and terms, your credit rating, outstanding debts, car details, where you live in California and other variables.

Is auto refinancing pre-approval certain if I have an excellent credit history and live in California?

No, nothing is guaranteed when refinancing in California even if you have excellent credit. You have to submit your individual info such as your address, employer, and income in California for refinancing pre-approval and check loan choices with particular lending institutions.

What are good objectives to have when refinancing my automobile?

Your car refinancing objectives mostly depend on your scenario. They can be monetarily related like saving money on payments or paying off personal debt. Your goals can also be personally specified like wanting to do what is optimal based on household vehicle needs. Refinancing can be situationally inspired and include wishing to adjust your vehicle loan details.

How do I find out if refinancing my auto in California will help me?

You usually need to start the auto refinancing process to see related refinancing rates in California. Up until then, you can use tools like our automobile refinance calculator to calculate financial savings or revised vehicle loan payment rates. Go to Auto Loan Refinance Calculator

Why are car and truck payments in California so pricey?

Auto loan lenders and banks calculate car payments based upon a number of things including your credit history, liquid assets, owed liabilities, motor vehicle location, and projected financing risk likelihood. Your physical location or residence address can also be taken into account. For instance, you might be extended various loan offers depending if you are dwelling in the city of San Francisco versus Los Angeles or San Diego.

What do I need to get a car loan in California?

To secure an auto loan in California, you are not required to be a member of any particular bank, cooperative credit union, or other lending institution. You can easily create the application. Keep in mind you will need to qualify to finish the vehicle loan application process.

What credit rating do I need to have to refinance my car loan in California?

If you have a credit score of 680 or better, you can commonly refinance your automobile loan. Your ability to refinance depends upon the lender and your vehicle. You might be able to obtain car loan refinance opportunities with a credit rating in the low 600s and even 500s depending upon your loan-to-value ratio. Having higher equity built up in your vehicle can make this possible.

How do I refinance my auto loan in California?

You can refinance your car loan by owning a truck, SUV, car, or other qualifying motor vehicle in California, having a loan on that vehicle, meeting lender requirements, and supplying your loan and personal details. Refinancing your suv, truck, or car can be a great way to lower your car loan interest rate and the amount of money you pay towards month-to-month payments.

To complete the refinance process in California, you will have to have state-issued documents like your valid driver’s license, an earnings confirmation document, car or truck documents and pictures showing mileage and VIN number, and your present car loan info. You’ll have to produce these things to the bank during the loan application process.

The bank or local credit union you pick will evaluate your personal and car or truck details, check your credit history, and let you know about the available new loan deals. You might receive a lower interest rate. If you have any questions, you can normally speak with your loan officer or business agent to see if you can lower your monthly car payment.

Ready To Start The Refinance Process?

Start by connecting with lenders in California.**

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