topic Re: Best Refinance Rates? in Auto Loans

Best Refinance Rates?

cinnamongirl — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 16:13:48 GMT

Anyone have any information on best refinance rates? I have a loan with NFCU at 4.99% and have been waiting for rates to come back down .. <tapping fingers on desk>

my FICO score is around 750

Re: Best Refinance Rates?

sccredit — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 17:41:40 GMT

My local credit union is 4.49% for 36 months on a refi. Not sure we are anywhere near the point where it is worth it yet.

Re: Best Refinance Rates?

CreditCuriosity — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 18:23:48 GMT

Can't really beat NFCU honestly.. If rates go down can refi with them. BCU is competitive as well assuming you have a CC with them and 1k a month in direct deposits. Just got to wait for the prime rate cuts to happen. Hopefully end of this month will be .5 points and another maybe .25 again this year and maybe a few next years then refinancing makes sense vs. your current rate as just got a new loan with them although term specific at 4.59% which was their best for 72 months could of dropped it for 60 or 32 months etc so all dependent on loan terms

Re: Best Refinance Rates?

TheFIGuy — Sat, 18 Oct 2025 15:59:01 GMT

@CreditCuriosity wrote:
Can't really beat NFCU honestly.. If rates go down can refi with them. BCU is competitive as well assuming you have a CC with them and 1k a month in direct deposits. Just got to wait for the prime rate cuts to happen. Hopefully end of this month will be .5 points and another maybe .25 again this year and maybe a few next years then refinancing makes sense vs. your current rate as just got a new loan with them although term specific at 4.59% which was their best for 72 months could of dropped it for 60 or 32 months etc so all dependent on loan terms

I was recently pre-approved by BCU for an auto loan refinance. I looked into possibly refinancing with BCU in detail, but decided to wait until mid next year to refinance. I'm hoping for lower rates — similar to your strategy. I know myFICO helps me all the time with data points (DPs), so for anyone searching for auto loan refinance rates, comparing NFCU or BCU, see below:

As of October 2025

NFCU:

Allows refinancing of an original NFCU auto loan. However, NFCU will close the original trade line and open a new trade line with a new, hopefully lower rate.
NFCU HP's Transunion and uses FICO 8 or 9 (I don't recall 100%) for auto loan refinancing rates and approvals.

BCU:

Allows refinancing of an original BCU auto loan. However, BCU does not close the original trade line but instead modifies the rate internally, keeping the original trade line open.
Auto loan refinancing has a $25 fee and can only be done three times (3x) over the life of the loan.
BCU HP's TransUnion and uses Vantage 4.0 for auto loan refinancing rates and approvals.
If you download the mobile app "OnePay - Mobile Banking" and open a free checking account. You can get your TransUnion (TU) Vantage 4.0 score for free.
BCU provides your TransUnion Vantage 3.0 score for free through its website. TU Vantage 3.0 vs. 4.0 can drastically differ, so I wouldn't recommend relying on your 3.0 score for solid rates or approval chances.
To obtain the lowest rate from BCU, see below:

"Rewards Rates let you earn more on your deposits and/or save more on your loans. To qualify for a 1.00% Rewards Member rate discount on your auto loan, you must have two of the following relationships:
a. Direct Deposit of at least $1,000 per month into a checking account at the Credit Union
b. At least $25,000 on deposit
c. A qualifying loan in good standing, including: Mortgage, Home Equity, Auto, or Credit Cards. A qualifying loan must have a current balance and credit cards must have a transaction within the past 30 days. Any Credit Union loan that is not in good standing or is delinquent will disqualify you for Rewards Rates."

BCU might get my auto loan refinance business with those benefits. Also, if they maintain a good relationship with me in the future, they might get new auto loan business as well. Hopefully, this will help someone out in the future.

Happy searching!

Re: Best Refinance Rates?

CreditCuriosity — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 16:07:29 GMT

@TheFIGuy wrote:
@CreditCuriosity wrote:
Can't really beat NFCU honestly.. If rates go down can refi with them. BCU is competitive as well assuming you have a CC with them and 1k a month in direct deposits. Just got to wait for the prime rate cuts to happen. Hopefully end of this month will be .5 points and another maybe .25 again this year and maybe a few next years then refinancing makes sense vs. your current rate as just got a new loan with them although term specific at 4.59% which was their best for 72 months could of dropped it for 60 or 32 months etc so all dependent on loan terms
I was recently pre-approved by BCU for an auto loan refinance. I looked into possibly refinancing with BCU in detail, but decided to wait until mid next year to refinance. I'm hoping for lower rates — similar to your strategy. I know myFICO helps me all the time with data points (DPs), so for anyone searching for auto loan refinance rates, comparing NFCU or BCU, see below:

As of October 2025
NFCU:
Allows refinancing of an original NFCU auto loan. However, NFCU will close the original trade line and open a new trade line with a new, hopefully lower rate.
NFCU HP's Transunion and uses FICO 8 or 9 (I don't recall 100%) for auto loan refinancing rates and approvals.
BCU:
Allows refinancing of an original BCU auto loan. However, BCU does not close the original trade line but instead modifies the rate internally, keeping the original trade line open.
Auto loan refinancing has a $25 fee and can only be done three times (3x) over the life of the loan.
BCU HP's TransUnion and uses Vantage 4.0 for auto loan refinancing rates and approvals.
If you download the mobile app "OnePay - Mobile Banking" and open a free checking account. You can get your TransUnion (TU) Vantage 4.0 score for free.
BCU provides your TransUnion Vantage 3.0 score for free through its website. TU Vantage 3.0 vs. 4.0 can drastically differ, so I wouldn't recommend relying on your 3.0 score for solid rates or approval chances.
To obtain the lowest rate from BCU, see below:
"Rewards Rates let you earn more on your deposits and/or save more on your loans. To qualify for a 1.00% Rewards Member rate discount on your auto loan, you must have two of the following relationships:
a. Direct Deposit of at least $1,000 per month into a checking account at the Credit Union
b. At least $25,000 on deposit
c. A qualifying loan in good standing, including: Mortgage, Home Equity, Auto, or Credit Cards. A qualifying loan must have a current balance and credit cards must have a transaction within the past 30 days. Any Credit Union loan that is not in good standing or is delinquent will disqualify you for Rewards Rates."

BCU might get my auto loan refinance business with those benefits. Also, if they maintain a good relationship with me in the future, they might get new auto loan business as well. Hopefully, this will help someone out in the future.

Happy searching!

Interseting info on BCU didn't know same trade line and up to 3x's on refi. Clearly they win. My friend has had some high end auto financed through them 200-400k auto's first time was POI then ever since then what do you want as uses same banker each time. They are easy to do business with but will likely require POI for those interested in them vs NFCU doesn't 99% of time. Maybe if goes down a point between this year and next ill do a refi with them if makes sense.

Re: Best Refinance Rates?

Realist — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 04:49:20 GMT

I found a rate of low 3% when shopping for a 36 month term, and refiance rates a bit higher leaning towards a five month term.

Most people when shopping around, will try to identify the best terms possible, and they should, but they also should want to be flexible. It's not only the APR that solely matters, as duration and prepayment can heavily influence what you can do moving forward. Options.

The difference between a 3% and 5% loan, when taken on the shortened duration of loan, are usually negliable. Followed through on the term until completion, not so much. It can cost you the most.

Instead, try to find the best rate you can afford at the shortest duration, and prepay that debt down enough over 12-18 months, that you could refinance the loan once again, for under $100 per month. This new payment is not a burden on anyone, and it provides upwards of five years of easy payment, and solid credit profile development.

When securing a loan, there is no one portion of a loan formula, that should seal a deal. Become flexible.

They make online financial calculators. Use them.