We reviewed 22 popular auto refinance lenders based on 16 data points in the categories of loan details, loan costs, eligibility and accessibility, customer experience and the application process. Lenders who did not publicly disclose basic information of loan terms, like how many years they will finance or dollar minimums and maximums, were disqualified. We chose the best lenders based on the weighting assigned to each category:
- Loan cost: 30%
- Eligibility and accessibility: 25%
- Loan details: 20%
- Customer experience: 15%
- Application process: 10%
Within each major category, we also considered several characteristics, including available loan amounts, repayment terms, APR ranges, applicable fees and available discounts. We also looked at minimum credit score requirements, maximum accepted mileages, whether each lender accepts co-signers or co-borrowers and the geographic availability of the lender.
Finally, we evaluated each provider’s customer support tools, borrower perks and features that simplify the borrowing process—like online application options, mobile apps and turnaround time.
Where appropriate, we awarded partial points depending on how well a lender met each criterion. Note that these rankings only comprise lenders that offer direct lending to consumers; companies that partner with multiple lenders or offer a lending marketplace were not included.
