5 Best Companies to Refinance Your Car

When you need to buy a new car fast, you can end up accepting an auto loan with a high annual percentage rate (APR) just to close the deal. Paying more for interest on a car loan than what you should be paying can cost you money that you could use to pay off bills or put into your savings. Therefore, it pays to shop for a refinance loan at a lower interest rate.

You may want to consider one of these top auto refinance companies to help find a lower rate. (Data shown as of April 2019)

The United Services Automobile Association (USAA) offers up to 84-month auto refinance loans with rates as low as 3.39% on 2018 or newer models. For 2017 or older models, loans are available in terms up to 72 months at rates starting at 4.10%. You must be a USAA member—people and families who serve or served in the United States military—to qualify for the loans.

Some loans approvals are instant, and you can get an answer to your application in about five minutes. After e-signing your loan documents in your USAA account, you can print out your loan check instantly or send the payoff amount to your dealer by using your smartphone. USAA does not charge an application fee, and you won't have to make payments on your new loan for up to 60 days. Reviews on the USAA website give USAA auto loans 4.4 stars.

Autopay is a lender marketplace that partners with credit unions and other financial institutions to offer loans at interest rates based on your credit profile. If you want to maintain a traditional loan, Autopay can help you find better interest rates from a lender that suits your needs.

Cash-back refinances through Autopay can help you to get up to $12,000 in cash that you can use to pay off other debts. If you plan to keep a leased car at the end of a lease, the lease payoff option allows you to pay off your lease early and avoid costly mileage fees. Customer reviews on LendingTree give Autopay 4.5 out of 5 stars.

CarsDirect specializes in helping people with bad credit find lenders to finance and refinance their vehicles. The process begins by filling out an online application that provides CarsDirect with some basic information about your gross monthly income, employment, and housing payment. You will also need to give the company permission to pull your credit. A credit processor will contact you with more information about the loans for which you qualify.

When you decide to work with a lender, you will probably have to provide additional documentation, such as proof of your income, residence, and insurance. The interest rate on the loan offer you receive depends on your credit score. Testimonials on CarsDirect's website give the service high marks for an easy application process.

RoadLoans offers both traditional and cash-back refinance options. The RoadLoans traditional finance option allows you to lower your APR and monthly car loan. As an added perk, you can skip payments on your new car loan for up to 60 days. The cash-back refinancing option allows you to borrow more than you owe, up to the full value of your car, but the cash-back option is not available in all states.

RoadLoans takes applicants with a wide range of credit backgrounds, so interest rates will vary. As of April 2019, RoadLoans had an an overall rating of over 4 stars on the Consumer Affairs website.

LightStream is a division of SunTrust Banks Inc. (NYSE: STI). As of April 2019, the lender offers auto refinance rates between 3.99 and 6.79% APR for 24 to 36 months, up to 5.14 to 8.34% for 73 to 84 months, depending on the loan amount.

LightStream offers unsecured auto refinance loans for borrowers with excellent credit, but borrowers with less-than-stellar credit can qualify for secured auto loans. You can borrow from $5,000 to $100,000 to refinance a loan on any car through a simple online application process.