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RateGenius auto loans: 2023 review

2023-01-01 00:00:00

At a glance

4.2
Rating: 4.2 stars out of 5

Bankrate Score

  • Availability
    Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5
  • Affordability
    Rating: 3.2 stars out of 5
  • Customer Experience
    Rating: 4 stars out of 5
  • Transparency
    Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
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About RateGenius

  • Moneybag

    Loan amount

    $8,000-$55,000

  • Credit Good

    Min. credit score

    510

  • Rates

    APR from

    3.09%-9.51%

  • Funds available in

    24 to 48 hours

RateGenius Pros and cons

RateGenius can help you save a bundle on your auto loan or buy out your lease without doing a ton of legwork. However, there are also drawbacks to be mindful of before using the platform.

PROS

  • Checkmark

    Perfect credit not required

  • Checkmark

    Interest rates published online

  • Checkmark

    Co-applicants permitted

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    Available in all 50 states

CONS

  • Close X

    Fees

  • Close X

    Limited loan options

RateGenius is an online platform that connects borrowers with lenders that offer auto refinancing. There are over 150 lenders in the network, and you can have your information shopped around with no impact on your credit score. If there is a match and you decide to move forward, your application can be processed within 24 to 48 hours. 
 

Do you qualify?

To qualify with RateGenius you must:

  • Be at least 18 years of age.
  • Have a loan balance of at least $8,000.
  • Have at least 24 months remaining on your loan term.
  • Have a steady source of income that’s deemed satisfactory by the lender.
  • Own a personal use vehicle that’s under 10 years old with less than 120,000 miles.
If you plan to use a co-applicant, they must live in the same state as you and be present when you are applying for a loan.
 

What we like and what we don’t like

RateGenius can help you save a bundle on your auto loan or buy out your lease without doing a ton of legwork. However, there are also drawbacks to be mindful of before using the platform.
 

What we like

  • Options for borrowers with imperfect credit: The RateGenius network is extensive, and some lenders work with applicants with low credit scores.
  • Interest rates published online: You can find the current auto refinance rates by credit rating on the website, and the figures are updated daily.
  • Co-applicants permitted: If you’re unable to meet the lender’s income or credit requirements, you can include a co-applicant when you apply to strengthen your approval odds.
  • Available in all 50 states: There are lenders available to serve you in all 50 states.

What we don’t like

  • Fees: Some lenders in the RateGenius network assess prepaid finance charges and title processing fees.
  • Limited loan options: Auto purchase loans aren’t available through RateGenius. Borrowers are limited to refinancing and lease buyout loans.

How to contact RateGenius

Representatives are available by phone at 866-728-3436 or email at hello@rategenius.com to help you apply or address any questions you may have. RateGenius does not list its business hours on its website. While it does not offer a mobile app, you can receive live help through the online chat tool.
 

Auto loan types offered

You can explore auto loan refinancing and lease buyout loan offers through RateGenius.
 

Auto loan refinancing

Refinancing your car loan through a lender in the RateGenius network could be a smart financial move for a few reasons. Refinancing could make sense if your monthly payment is too high or your credit score has improved, potentially qualifying you for a better interest rate. It is also ideal for borrowers who want to shorten their loan term to save on interest or remove someone from the current auto loan. 

Lease buyout loans

The lenders in the RateGenius network offer lease buyout loans if you plan to keep your leased vehicle. You don’t necessarily have to wait until  the lease is up to apply for financing. But it could be more cost effective to wait until the lease term ends so you can 

How to apply for a loan with RateGenius

Applying for an auto loan with RateGenius is easy, and it only takes 24 to 48 hours to complete the process and receive your funds. To get started, complete the online application or call RateGenius to apply by phone.

You will need to provide your contact information, the name of your current lender, current monthly payment and vehicle information.

RateGenius will share your information with lenders in its network to determine if there is a potential match. If you choose to apply with a lender, submit a formal application and any required documents. Upon approval, the lender will send the loan documents electronically for you to review and sign or mail them to your doorstep in a pre-paid postage envelope.

RateGenius FAQs

How Bankrate rates RateGenius

Overall score 4.2
Availability 4.3 RateGenius’s high minimum loan amount knocks an otherwise good availability score down.
Affordability 4 With 150 lenders on board, RateGenius can offer some leniency when it comes to qualification standards, though some charge fees.
Customer experience 4.2 A quick funding turnaround time helps boost RateGenius’s score.
Transparency 4.5 RateGenius allows prequalification, but only publishes some fees.

Methodology 

To rate lenders that specialize in auto refinance loans, Bankrate considers 16 different factors. These factors range in consideration from the loan amount, disclosed APR and acceptance criteria. Each lender holds a score based on four categories. 

  • Availability: This accounts for loan amounts, vehicle restrictions and availability in each state.
  • Affordability: Primarily, this section covers expected APR, acceptance criteria, discounts for autopay and the number of fees. 
  • Customer experience: This category includes online access, support availability, funding timeline, option for automatic payment and app availability.
  • Transparency: Here prequalification and disclosure of rates and fees are accounted for.
Editorial disclosure: All reviews are prepared by Bankrate.com staff. Opinions expressed therein are solely those of the reviewer and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. The information, including rates and fees, presented in the review is accurate as of the date of the review. Check the data at the top of this page and the lender’s website for the most current information.
Written by
Allison Martin

Allison Martin’s work began over 10 years ago as a digital content strategist, and she’s since been published in several leading financial outlets, including The Wall Street Journal, MSN Money, MoneyTalksNews, Investopedia, Experian and Credit.com.

Edited by Auto loans editor