At a glance

- Availability
- Affordability
- Customer Experience
- Transparency
About Autopay
-
Loan amount
$2,500-$100,000
-
Min. credit score
Not specified
-
APR from
4.67%
-
Funds available in
As little as one business day
Loan amount
$2,500-$100,000
Min. credit score
Not specified
APR from
4.67%
Funds available in
As little as one business day
Is your car worth more than what you owe on it? Autopay offers cash-out refinancing, meaning you’ll have the option of drawing on your car’s equity and taking out extra money. You’ll have to pay interest on the extra sum, but if you have another high-interest debt you want to pay off, Autopay’s competitive rates could make this type of loan a smart move.
While this loan product isn’t unique to Autopay — some competitors, like RefiJet, also offer cash-out refinancing — it helps this lender stand out.
There are some key benefits and drawbacks of Autopay auto loans to consider before applying.
Convenient
Long maximum term
Perfect credit not required
Lack of transparency around maximum APR
Down payment
Possible loan origination fee
Autopay doesn’t specify lending requirements on its website. However, you will need to provide specific vehicle details when you formally apply with a lender to receive full approval. Or you can get prequalified in minutes using the online form to view potential loan offers. The form is simple to complete, and getting prequalified won’t impact your credit score.
PNC is a bank offering purchase and refinance loans. PNC excels for people who prefer an in-person experience thanks to its large network of branches. It also stands out for its Total Auto program, which makes it easy to search for vehicles in your area.
However, its loans can be pricier than Autopay’s for people who have great credit. It also has a higher minimum loan at $7,500, which may be a drawback for people who only need a small loan.
Like Autopay, LightStream is an online lender that helps refinance or buy cars. Like Autopay, LightStream excels at fast funding, offering loans in as little as a single day. However, it also has a higher minimum APR, which means those with great credit will likely get a better deal from Autopay. On the other hand, unlike Autopay, LightStream offers unsecured auto loans — meaning your car won’t immediately be repossessed if you default.
If you’re in the market for a new ride, you can work with Autopay to find the perfect auto loan for your financial situation. Like most online lenders, Autopay allows you to view your possible rates without taking a credit hit by prequalifying. The 30-day prequalification period allows you to shop with confidence at the dealership and avoid spending hours sitting around waiting for the finance department to approve your loan.
Whether you want to lower your monthly auto loan payments or secure a lower interest rate, refinancing with a lender in the Autopay network may help you meet your goal. You can also go this route to shorten your loan term and pay off your car loan faster. Refinancing rates tend to mirror used car loan rates, but Autopay’s stated minimum rate falls well below the national average of over 11 percent.
If you want to draw on your vehicle’s equity, cash-back refinancing could be a viable option. You can receive up to $12,000 in cash and use the funds however you see fit. Some borrowers opt to pay off high-interest debt and free up funds for other financial goals.
This financing option can help you keep your leased vehicle when the lease term is up. Or you could pay off your lease early. Plus, you can avoid excess mileage fees if you’ve exceeded the limit specified in the lease agreement.
After gathering the necessary documents, fill out Autopay’s application form, which does not require a hard credit check. Autopay will shop your information to lenders in its network and present potential auto loan offers to you if there’s a match. If you decide to move forward, the lender will pull your credit and review supporting documents before issuing full approval.
Hopeful borrowers with imperfect credit can add a co-signer to improve their odds of approval or land a better rate.
Once you’re approved for a loan, Autopay lets you add extras like gap insurance or a vehicle service contract. These add-ons are fairly common among lenders and can also be purchased separately, so make sure to compare pricing before tacking them onto your loan.
Like most lending marketplaces, Autopay doesn’t list specific fees on its website, aside from noting a possible loan origination fee. Each lender it works with may have different fees, so it’s important to read the fine print of any offer you receive. However, unlike some competitors, Autopay doesn’t appear to charge a processing fee to match you with its network of lenders.
Overall score | 4.2 | |
---|---|---|
Availability | 4.6 | Autopay’s wide network of lenders allows for wide coverage in the areas of loan amounts, state availability and terms. It also doesn’t have dealership restrictions. |
Affordability | 3.5 | Affordability will vary based on the lender you’re matched with, which means Autopay falls toward the middle of the road. |
Customer experience | 4 | Autopay offers customer service six days a week, full online access and a shopping period of 30 days, earning it a higher customer service score. |
Transparency | 4.5 | Fees and rates are only partially available on Autopay’s website, but prequalification availability bumps its score up. |
Bankrate considers 18 data points when selecting top auto loans. Acceptance criteria, whether rates and fees are available and APR range all influence lender scores. These scores are broken up into four categories.