;)
Rates are still the lowest they’ve been all year.
● The current average auto refinance interest rate is the lowest it’s been all year (again) at 5.34%.
● In September, the overall average rate across all approved auto refinance loans dropped to 5.38% — another record low for the year.
● Borrowers with scores below 750 are still saving $100+/month on average after refinancing their auto loans. The largest amount saved after refinancing in September was $705.97 per month.
More on all of that below. Here’s the Auto Refinance Rate Report for October 2021.
Current average interest rate
The monthly Auto Refinance Rate Report is an analysis of anonymized completed auto refinance applications and funded (closed) loans in our network of more than 150 lenders nationwide.
📝 The current average auto refinance interest rate is 5.34%. This is an average across all loan terms (36 to 72 months) and all credit profiles for loans approved in the RateGenius network over the last 30 days.
This month, borrowers with all credit backgrounds are getting approved for the lowest rates of the year.
Borrowers with Poor credit scores (<640) are enjoying auto refi rates below 9% across all loan terms while those with Excellent credit (750+) are getting about the same, 2.99% and below on average.
With record-low auto refinance rates and record-high used car values, October is a great month to consider refinancing your car loan. Here’s why.
Back in June, we published a report on the impact of used car values on auto loan refinancing applications. We found a 66% increase in auto refinance loan approvals compared to the year before.
If you’re unfamiliar with the auto refinance process, your car’s value is one of many factors in determining whether you’ll qualify for auto loan refinancing. It’s part of your loan-to-value ratio (or LTV), a percentage representing your car’s value compared to how much you owe on the loan. An LTV above 100% means you owe more on the loan than your vehicle is worth. When car values go up, your LTV actually improves which can not only help your auto refinance approval odds — you may end up with even better auto refi loan offers too. (You can learn more about LTV here.)
So, if you’re not happy with your current car loan, compare your rate with today’s rates and check out what refinance options are available in your area.
📝 The average overall auto refinance interest rate in September was 5.38% across all customers approved for refinancing. Among borrowers who completed the auto refinance process, the average auto refinance savings was $102.24 per month, and the average auto loan balance refinanced was $24,581.
RateGenius analyzed data on customer applications for auto loan refinancing made between January 1, 2021 and October 10, 2021. This dataset included thousands of anonymized completed auto loan refinance applications. We examined annual savings, changes in interest rates, auto loan debt, and application volume, broken down by credit tier and/or loan term. Savings and interest rate averages are based on approved loans across all loan terms, 36 to 72 months.
As 2026 begins, auto financing is entering the year under familiar pressure. Vehicle prices remain elevated compared to pre-pandemic norms, and loan terms continue to stretch longer than they once did. Together, these forces are shaping how borrowers approach financing decisions, even before the year’s broader economic direction fully unfolds. Rather than signaling a sudden…
Everything You Need to Know About Flexible Repayment Terms Flexible repayment terms have become increasingly important as borrowers look for ways to manage rising costs, shifting interest rates, and evolving financial priorities. Whether the goal is to lower a car payment, reduce total interest paid, or improve monthly cash flow, the structure of a loan…
You can refinance a car loan with bad credit. But you might miss out on the best interest rates. If your existing auto loan payment for a new or used car is putting a strain on your budget, refinancing could be the solution you’ve been searching for. A refinance…
