Both iLending and Nationwide offer refinancing loans for vehicles. iLending is a loan aggregator that matches borrowers with its many partner lenders. Nationwide is a nationally known auto insurer offering loans through Axos Bank.

While Nationwide has a long history in the business, iLending offers more robust customer support and lower credit requirements. As a result, drivers with lower credit scores may have more success with iLending.

But Nationwide has higher loan amounts than many competitors, with a maximum of $100,000, and may be better for drivers with larger loans. Both companies offer similarly low minimum APRs, with iLending offering 4.49 percent and Nationwide offering 4.55 percent.

Nationwide vs. iLending at a glance

When considering who to refinance your auto loan, there are several essential factors to pay attention to. Below, we’ve compared Nationwide auto financing vs. iLending along several of these factors:

Nationwide iLending
Bankrate score 4.0 4.0
Better for
  • Larger loan amounts, up to $100,000
  • Drivers who want to get their loans and other financial and insurance products from one company
  • Drivers with lower credit scores who may not meet Nationwide’s requirements.
  • Drivers who want to work with a personal loan specialist.
Loans offered Auto loan refinancing Auto loan refinancing
Loan amounts $10,000-$100,000 Not specified
APRs 4.55%-8.55% 5.20%-18.00%
Loan term lengths Up to 96 months 12-84 months
Fees Possible origination fee Not specified
Minimum credit score 680 560
State footprint All states All states
Time to funding 2 days 1 day
Autopay discount? Not specified Varies by lender
Refinancing restrictions
  • Credit score: 680
  • Mileage: 125,000 miles or less. (175,000 for diesel but it must be worth $8,500 or more)
  • Make: Not commercial, Daewoo, Saab, Oldsmobile, Suzuki or Isuzu.
  • Credit score: 560
  • Vehicle requirements vary

Nationwide auto refinancing

Nationwide car loans are limited to refinancing for existing auto loans. The company offers relatively high loan amounts and relatively low APRs compared to the industry at large. Even its maximum APR, 8.55 percent, is lower than the national average of 11.70 percent. Plus, unlike most lenders, Nationwide doesn’t set a maximum vehicle age — and its max mileage is generous.

Nationwide doesn’t charge prepayment penalties. That benefits drivers who want to pay off their loans early and save on interest.

Still, some drivers may face barriers around Nationwide’s refinance requirements, including minimum credit score and vehicle-related restrictions.

Pros

  • Prequalification available: You can check your possible rates without undergoing a hard credit check.
  • High maximum loan amount: Nationwide isn’t the only lender offering amounts up to $100,000 — many competitors, like PenFed Credit Union, can match or even beat the amount. Still, six figures is generous for a car loan.
  • No prepayment penalty: You can repay your loan early without facing fees.

Cons

  • Vehicle restrictions: Some models are ineligible for refinancing with Nationwide.
  • No rates or fees disclosed: These are important factors for deciding among lenders, but they aren’t posted on Nationwide’s website. You’ll have to prequalify to see your possible rates.
  • Limited products: If you want to both insure and finance your new car purchase through Nationwide, you’re out of luck.

iLending auto refinancing

Within the competitive auto loan refinance industry, iLending has several qualities to commend it. iLending offers relatively low APR minimums and lists few qualification requirements. The latter could be good or bad, depending on how many unspecified requirements iLending may have.

iLending pairs each accepted applicant with a staff loan specialist that can aid them in refinancing. While this isn’t unheard-of — RefiJet offers a similar service — it’s not a common perk. The company boasts an easy prequalification and application process, although they don’t offer any form of in-person customer support.

Pros

  • Personal lending specialist: You’ll be paired with a staffer to guide you through the refinancing process. Just remember that they have a vested interest in getting you to sign on.
  • Low minimum APR: iLending’s starting APR is slightly higher than Nationwide’s but is competitive in the refinancing space.
  • Simple and quick application process: iLending states its online application takes only minutes to complete — though a loan specialist may contact you to fill in any missing information.

Cons

  • Relatively high max APR: iLending’s max rate is similar to the national average for those with subprime credit buying used cars. If you fall into that group, it’s a decent deal, but if you have better credit, you can do better than 18.00 percent.
  • No in-person service: Like most online lenders, iLending doesn’t maintain in-person locations that are open to the public.
  • Vague qualification requirements: iLending’s lending partners likely have varying requirements around the loan amounts and vehicles they’ll refinance — few of which are listed on iLending’s website.

How to choose between Nationwide and iLending

While both lenders may offer many overlapping benefits, a driver might prefer one over the other for several reasons.

Choose Nationwide if you have an older vehicle with under 125,000 miles

Nationwide is somewhat uncommon in the industry in that they will refinance loans on older cars. Many companies restrict eligible vehicles to those manufactured in the last ten years or less. While Nationwide doesn’t specify a restriction around car age, they require non-diesel vehicles to have fewer than 125,000 miles on the odometer. For diesel vehicles, the mileage limit is 175,000, but the vehicle must be worth at least $8,500.

Drivers of older vehicles looking to refinance their loans may run into eligibility restrictions that exclude their vehicles. While Nationwide does have a higher credit rating requirement than iLending, it may be more accepting of older vehicles.

Choose iLending if you want to refinance the loan on a boat, RV, motorcycle or ATV

iLending refinance options extend beyond standard cars. The company offers refinancing on eligible boats, RVs, motorcycles and ATVs. Paired with the company’s relatively low minimum rates and minimum credit score requirements, owners of these luxury vehicles may find iLending can save them money on what they still owe.

Many auto refinancing companies don’t offer refinancing for these types of vehicles. If you’re still on the original loan for your luxury vehicle, getting a quote from iLending may be worthwhile.

Compare more lenders before applying

Both iLending and Nationwide offer competitive rates for auto loan refinancing. Nationwide will work with older cars (aged 10+ years), while iLending states that they may be less likely to approve these vehicles. iLending offers refinancing on several types of recreational vehicles and boats as well as cars. While both companies could be good choices for the right borrower, it’s often wise to explore several options before making a financial decision.