Capital one car loan refinance phone number

Best for applicants wanting to pre-qualify for financing and find a new vehicle online, before visiting the dealership.

Full Review

Capital One Auto Finance offers financing for new and used cars, but only through its network of participating dealerships. It also provides refinancing for existing car loans.

Whether applying for a purchase or refinance loan, applicants can pre-qualify with a soft credit check, which won’t affect their credit score. This enables them to get an idea of the interest rate, term and monthly payment they may qualify for before proceeding with the loan. If they do accept the loan offer, a hard credit inquiry is done.

How Capital One Auto Navigator works

For auto purchase financing, Capital One Auto Navigator enables car buyers to shop for a car and apply for a pre-qualified loan offer on its website or through a downloadable mobile app. New and used car financing is limited to one of more than 12,000 dealerships available on the Capital One Auto Navigator tool. Car buyers request pre-qualified offers for the specific vehicles they are interested in and can try different payment scenarios by adjusting factors like down payment amount or term length.

After pre-qualifying online for a Capital One Auto Finance loan, car buyers take their saved offer to the dealership, where application paperwork is completed and a hard credit inquiry is done. Dealers may also provide offers from other lenders at this point, and car buyers are free to go with the best loan available.

How Capital One auto refinancing works

For auto loan refinancing, borrowers work directly with Capital One. The application process is 100% online, including e-signing the contract and uploading documents. If they pre-qualify, applicants will see several offers with different rates and terms, based on a soft credit inquiry. This inquiry will not affect credit scores and lets the applicant see if refinancing a car loan will save them money.

Pre-qualification decisions for refinancing are typically returned in less than one minute. After applicants choose an offer, they complete the refinance application online, resulting in a hard credit inquiry.

While pre-qualification is useful for shopping loan rates or speeding up the process at a dealership, it is not a guarantee of loan approval. Also, pre-qualified loan offers can change after a hard credit inquiry. But, if the information initially submitted was accurate, the pre-qualification offer and final loan terms shouldn’t differ greatly.

Capital One Auto Finance may be a good fit for those who:

  • Want to compare rates: Pre-qualification with a soft credit check will not affect an applicant's credit score. It enables borrowers to shop loans and compare Capital One rates and monthly payments to offers from other lenders.

  • Want to shop for cars online: Capital One Auto Navigator enables car buyers to find a vehicle online, pre-qualify and present that offer when at the car dealership, speeding up the car buying process. Pre-qualifying is not a commitment to finance with Capital One if the dealership finds a lower-rate loan offer.

  • Have other Capital One accounts: Existing Capital One customers may find it more convenient to manage their auto loan and make payments in Capital One’s online banking and mobile app, where they view and manage other accounts. Capital One doesn't offer an auto loan rate discount for setting up automatic payments from a Capital One account.

Capital One Auto Finance at a glance

  • Origination fee: None.

  • Personal information needed:  Social Security number or ITIN, address, time at address, phone, email, birthdate, employment status, employer name, housing payment amount.

  • Pre-qualification available: Yes, via soft credit check. Pre-qualified offer valid for 30 days.

  • Online, in-person or both: Application to pre-qualify for a purchase loan is submitted online and then completed at the dealership. Auto loan refinancing is 100% online, including document upload.

  • Approval speed: Typically within 24 hours for auto refinance loans. Did not disclose for purchase loans.

  • Funding speed: Did not disclose.

  • Minimum FICO credit score: Did not disclose.

  • Minimum credit history: Has minimum. Length not disclosed.

  • Minimum annual gross income: $18,000.

  • Maximum debt-to-income ratio: Did not disclose.

  • Bankruptcy-related restrictions:  Has restrictions but details not disclosed.

  • States covered:  All except AK, HI.

  • Maximum vehicle age: 10 years for used car purchase; 7 years for refinance loan.

  • Maximum vehicle mileage: 120,000 miles for used cars.

  • Other vehicle restrictions: New and used vehicles must be purchased at a participating dealership. Does not finance purchase loans for certain vehicle makes including Oldsmobile, Daewoo, Saab, Suzuki or Isuzu vehicles.

  • Loan amount minimum: $4,000 for purchase loan; $7,500 for refinancing.

  • Loan amount maximum: Did not disclose for purchase loan; $50,000 for refinancing.

  • Refinancing time restrictions: Doesn't have minimum time period before refinancing is allowed, but current lender must be reporting loan to a major credit bureau. Will not refinance existing Capital One loans.

  • Loan terms: Did not disclose.

  • Automatic payment: Available but not required.

  • Rate discount: Not offered.

  • Greater-than-minimum payments: Accepted and can be made by automatic payment. Information about how surplus is applied was not provided.

  • Biweekly payments: Accepted but not through automatic payment.

  • Late payment fee: Yes. Amount not disclosed.

  • Prepayment penalty: None.

  • Co-borrowers allowed: Yes.

  • Co-signers allowed: No.

  • Payment options: Mailed-in check, phone, mobile app, online, ACH, in person.

  • Selected payment date: Borrower can select after signing loan agreement. Payment due date can also be changed by as many as 15 days within online banking.

  • Cash-out refinancing: Not offered.

  • Hardship plans: Yes. Details not disclosed.

  • Assistance provided: Dedicated phone numbers are provided for auto loan applicants to call for assistance. Applicants can also log in to a portal to see their loan application status.

  • Availability: Mon–Fri 9 a.m.-9 p.m. ET.

  • Contact options: Phone, online chat.

Does Capital One allow refinancing?

While it's best known for its credit card offerings, Capital One also provides financial services including refinancing auto loans. Capital One auto refinance allows you to prequalify to refinance your vehicle without hurting your credit score.

What is the number to Capital One auto Finance?

If you require additional details, call Capital One Auto Finance Customer Service at 1-800-946-0332.

Do refinancing hurt your credit?

Refinancing will hurt your credit score a bit initially, but might actually help in the long run. Refinancing can significantly lower your debt amount and/or your monthly payment, and lenders like to see both of those. Your score will typically dip a few points, but it can bounce back within a few months.

What is the lowest interest rate for refinancing a car?

In our research, we found auto refinance rates as low as 1.99%. However, lending rates are largely dependent on your financial situation, including your credit score, as well as the term length you choose.