Auto Loans

One call to the lender. Refinancing matters if your credit improved or you signed at a dealership markup.

New rate must beat old rate net of any fees; keep the TERM the same or shorter — stretching 3 remaining years back to 6 hides cost inside 'lower payment.'

Rolling negative equity into the next car compounds the hole. Drive it out, pay it down, or sell strategically.

Dealer add-ons can often be cancelled for prorated refunds — check your contract.

A credit-union pre-approval makes the dealership compete on the CAR price, not the payment illusion.

A common affordability guideline: ~20% down, ≤4-year term, all-in car costs ≤10-15% of income. Our calculator does it with your numbers.

$399/month for 84 months is not a deal; it's $33,500. Judge the number at the bottom.