If you have one
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.
Before the next one
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.