Tips For Paying A Car Loan With A Credit Card
- Before you actually begin the card application process, take stock of your monthly budget looking at income and expenses. Most 0% APR credit cards will have six- to 18-month balance transfer options. Determine whether you can feasibly pay off your loan within the given time and make sure you get one of the best balance transfer credit cards to help you.
- If you do end up getting a 0% APR credit card, be sure to read over the cards agreement papers. In the event that you dont repay the whole loan before the introductory period ends, many credit card issuers can charge you interest on the whole balance, not just whats left. Also pay attention to the balance transfer APR after the intro period. That will give you an idea of how expensive things could get if you have to start paying interest.
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Capital One Auto Loan Pre
Going through the pre-approval process is not the same as being approved for an auto loan. It starts with auto loan prequalification, which is done through the Capital One Auto Navigator app where you are asked short questions about your financial situation. After this is done, a soft credit check will be done, and soon after borrowers will be given a pre-approved auto loan offer.
Capital One says prequalified borrowers can see their estimated monthly payments, APRs, and loan terms. Prequalification offers expire 30 days from the date the loan application is received and There are no application fees to use the Capital One Auto Navigator app.
Be aware that though you can get approved for an offer through this route, participating dealers can still reject you if you do not agree to all of the terms. Make sure to read carefully and shop around before committing to a Capital One pre-approved auto loan.
Other Factors Affecting Capital One Auto Loan Rates
Your credit score is perhaps the most influential factor in your auto loan rates from Capital One and other lenders, but it isnt the only one. The following factors also affect the rates youll get from a creditor:
- Financing terms: Opting for longer terms will get you a lower monthly loan payment, but youll likely find higher rates, too.
- Down payment: Whether in cash or as a trade-in, the amount you put down on a car, truck, or SUV affects the loan-to-value ratio . This is the amount you borrow compared to the value of the vehicle. If you have a lower LTV, you can probably get a lower rate.
- Vehicle details: The age, make, model, and mileage of your vehicle are all factors in your rates. Loans for older vehicles and high-mileage cars sometimes come with higher rates.
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Capital One Auto Finance
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Know When Your Payment Is Due

Pay just one day late and you may have to pay a fee, even if itâs your first time. Generally, the later the payment, the worse the effect could be on your credit. So know your due dates and stick to them. Late payments could affect your credit score based on a number of factors:
- How late was a payment?
- How recently was a payment missed?
- How often are payments missed?
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Capital One Auto Finance Review: Conclusion
Capital One can be a solid option if youre looking to compare rates and dont want to damage your credit score. Having an in-house system of cars to choose from is a plus if youre eager to streamline the shopping process, but it doesnt necessarily mean youll land the best deal. We recommend you shop around and compare options before committing to any auto loan offers
Cons Of Paying A Car Loan With A Credit Card
A huge disadvantage to paying off an auto loan with a credit card is the potential harm it could do to your credit score. Credit reporting agencies view unsecured loans/revolving debt much less favorably than secured loans. So even if youre making your payments on time, it wont boost your score as much. Plus, since youll no doubt be placing a rather large balance on your card, your overall credit utilization will increase drastically. Your credit utilization ratio plays a big part in your score. When you use too much of your available credit, your credit score usually sees a drop. This could then affect your interest rates on any future loans or credit cards you might apply for.
A typical 0% introductory APR offer lasts about six to 18 months, so you wont have an interest-free loan forever. Interest will start accruing eventually, and youll need to pay off the loan before it does. If you cant repay the balance of your loan within that time, you could end up paying more interest than you wouldve on your original loan.
Its also important to note that using a 0% APR credit card isnt a readily available option to everyone. These cards often require a very good or excellent credit score for approval.
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Best Bank For Refinancing Your Capitalone Loan
Best Auto Loan Refinance Companies of 2021
- Best for Great Credit: Credit Unions
- Best for Checking Rates Without Impacting Your Credit: Capital One.
- Best Trusted Name: Bank of America, Chase or WellsFargo.
- Best for The Most Options: WithClutch.
- Best for Members of the Military: USAA or Navy Federal CU.
- Best for Peer-to-Peer Loans: LendingClub although not recommendable.
- Digital Credit Union and PenFed.
Capital One Auto Loan Prequalification
Capital One Auto Loan Prequalification can be done online and requires you to complete a brief questionnaire about your vehicle, income, and housing situation.
Note that prequalification is not the same as preapproval. A preapproval is a guaranteed loan offer, while a prequalification is a tentative statement that you qualify for certain loan terms. Capital One does not offer preapprovals, only prequalifications.
After prequalifying, you will be given loan offer details like APRs, monthly payment amounts, and even a list of for-sale vehicles from participating dealerships. Capital One does not run a hard check on your credit report during the prequalification process, meaning that you can see your loan offers without potentially lowering your credit score.
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How To Choose The Best Auto Loan Lender
Choosing the right lender comes down to financing a vehicle you can afford. It is recommended that you get quotes from at least three lenders outside of a car dealership before deciding which is right for you. Pay special attention to the following factors:
1. Approval requirements. Every lender has different requirements to receive approval. Lenders will consider aspects like your credit history, income and debt-to-income ratio. Your credit serves as the primary determinant of potential rates. Keep in mind that typically, the worse your credit score is, the less competitive your rates will be.
2. Annual percentage rate. The APR represents the amount of interest that you will have to pay during the loan. Pay close attention to this number a higher APR means more interest and thus a larger monthly cost. Also remember to shop the total loan amount, not just the monthly payment.
3. Loan terms. While a lower monthly payment may seem appealing, pay close attention to available terms, and consider how the lifetime of your loan will impact your overall cost. A longer loan term will lower your monthly cost, but you will pay more interest. Conversely, a shorter loan term means a higher monthly cost but a lower cost over the life of the loan.
Auto loans let you borrow the money you need to purchase a car. Since car loans are typically secured they require you to use the automobile you are buying as collateral for the loan.
The Problem With Paying Your Auto Loan With A Credit Card
While saving money is almost always a good thing, paying your auto loan with a credit card isnt the no-brainer it sounds like. For starters, this financial move changes the nature of the loan itself. By transferring your auto loan to a credit card, youre taking a secured loan and turning it into revolving credit. On the upside, this means your car cant be repossessed if you quit paying your bill. However, simply moving the debt can wreak havoc on your credit score in a number of ways.
For starters, credit scoring companies view revolving debt very differently from installment loans and not in a good way. In general, steady installment loans are better for your credit score.
Another impact on your credit score could be the result of increased . By transferring your car loan to a credit card, youre charging up a huge balance that wasnt there before. Since how much you owe on your credit cards helps determine your score, increasing your credit utilization could cause your score to drop.
Another important drawback to consider is the precedent set by paying your auto loan with a credit card. While moving balances around might make you feel like youve paid off debt, you havent really accomplished much yet. In reality, balance transfers are really nothing more than a shell game if you dont take your debts seriously. And if you let your balances grow as you bounce them around, you wont end up any better off.
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How To Apply For A Loan From Capital One Auto Finance
Applying for an auto loan from Capital One Auto Finance is simple and straightforward.
You can go directly to the Capital One website and fill out the online application if you are ready to take out a loan, and if you want to check your possible interest rates, you can use the free pre-qualifying tool.
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Exactly Just How The Charge Fees Function

Capital One Auto Finance assesses fees for refinancing your present auto lending, behind-time payment as well as altering your payment due date. Depending upon the information of your Capital One Auto Finance lending, you might be actually billed a safety and security down payment.
Re-financing fees -typical fees variety coming from $5 towards $65.Safety and safety down payment differs depending upon the problems of the lending.Behind-time payment fees cannot surpass $50 for every incident.Payment due date alter fees, as well as fees, differ.
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First See What Assistance Your Lender Has To Offer
Youâll want to know what kinds of programs your bank, credit union or other auto loan provider may have available to you. Also, if there are any state laws that might offer some protections against repossession, youâll want to find out about those, too.
Here are the most comprehensive resources weâve been able to turn up to help with both.
- If you financed your car through the dealer, car review and pricing guide publisher Edmunds has compiled a list of all the major manufacturers and their coronavirus relief programs here.
- Do you lease your vehicle? Edmunds has a .
- The most exhaustive list we came across of banks and other financial institutions â big and small â who have publicly announced coronavirus relief programs is from the American Bankers Association, a banking trade group. Its .
- The National Consumer Law Center, a legal services and consumer advocacy nonprofit, has an updated list of the various coronavirus-related protections against repossession passed by various states here.
- A broader list of all state coronavirus executive orders and laws is available here, compiled by the digital encyclopedia of American politics and elections website Ballotpedia.
- CNET sister site Roadshow also details relief programs for existing loans as well as incentive programs for new cars with a number of auto manufacturers.
As businesses like this soda and candy shop in Asheville, North Carolina, start to reopen, you can bet repossession companies will be back to work, too.
Easy Online Application For Pre
Shopping around for an auto loan and comparing offers is the best way to know that youâre getting a good deal. With Capital One, itâs easy to pre-qualify online and walk into a dealership with an idea of what you might pay.
If you pre-qualify in advance, you have more bargaining power with the dealership when it comes to talking interest rates. The interest rate on your auto loan is negotiable, and you could use your pre-qualification offer to beat an offer or be confident that youâve got the best deal.
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Automated Dialing To Customers’ Phones
In August 2014, Capital One and three collection agencies entered into an agreement to pay $75.5 million to end a consolidated class action lawsuit pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois alleging that the companies used an automated dialer to call customers’ cellphones without consent, which is a violation of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991. It is notable that this legal action involved informational telephone calls, which are not subject to the “prior express written consent” requirements which have been in place for telemarketing calls since October 2013.
Capital One Auto Refinance
Another option through Capital One is to refinance an existing auto loan to secure a lower interest rate.
Vehicles eligible for auto refinance through Capital One include new and used cars, light trucks, minivans, and SUVs designated for personal use. Capital One doesnt refinance vehicle makes no longer being produced. Here are other qualifying criteria:
- Your current loan cannot be from Capital One Auto Finance.
- The payoff amount for the existing loan must be between $7,500 and $50,000.
- You must be up to date on car payments and mortgage payments .
- The vehicle must be no more than 10 years old and have an established resale value.
- Your current lender must report to a major credit bureau, be FDIC or NCUA insured, be Better Business Bureau accredited, and be a state-registered lender or auto dealer.
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How To Get An Auto Loan
Once you find the right auto loan for your situation, follow these steps:
1. Shop around. It is usually best to compare rates and terms from at least three lenders before moving forward with an auto loan.
2. Prequalify. Prequalifying with lenders lets you see your potential rates without a hard credit check.
3. Complete your application. To complete your application, you will likely need details about your car, including the purchase agreement, registration and title. You will also need documentation like proof of income and insurance, proof of residence and a driver’s license.
4. Make payments. Your payment schedule will start as soon as you receive your auto loan. If needed, set up a calendar reminder or automatic payments to keep you on track with your monthly bill and avoid late payments.
Capital One Auto Finance: 2021 Review
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The bottom line:
Capital One Auto Finance is a good fit if you want to check rates without affecting your credit score and plan to shop within its large dealership network. It also refinances existing loans.
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Expansion Into Auto Loans
In 1996, Capital One moved from relying on teaser rates to generate new clients to adopting more innovative techniques that would attract more customers to their business model. At the time, it was losing customers to competitors who offered higher ceilings on loan balances and no-annual-fee accounts. The company came up with co-branded, secured, and joint account credit cards. In mid-1996, Capital One received approval from the federal government to set up Capital One FSB. This meant that the company could now retain and lend out deposits on secured cards and even issue automobile installment loans.
In 1996, Capital One expanded its business operations to the United Kingdom and Canada. This gave the company access to a large international market for its credit cards. An article appearing in Chief Executive in 1997 noted that the company held $12.6 billion in credit card receivables and served more than nine million customers. The company was listed in the Standard & Poor’s 500, and its stock price hit the $100 mark for the first time in 1998.
In July 1998, Capital One acquired auto financing company Summit Acceptance Corporation.
In 1999, Capital One was looking to expand beyond credit cards. CEO Richard Fairbank announced moves to use Capital One’s experience with collecting consumer data to offer loans, insurance, and phone service.
Automobile loan financer Onyx Acceptance Corporation was acquired by Capital One in January 2005.