I’ve heard of refinancing a mortgage. Can I really do the same thing for my car?

Most people are familiar with refinancing a mortgage, but you can also refinance auto loans! When you refinance an auto loan through Caribou, you could save hundreds - even thousands - of dollars in interest.*

Why should I refinance my vehicle?

Many people refinance because they can get better terms than when they first purchased their vehicle. This saves people money over the lifetime of their loan, either with a lower monthly payment, interest savings, or both! When you refinance, you also have an opportunity to adjust the term of your loan.

What factors go into qualifying for a refinance?

When you apply for a refinance, we’ll need a few pieces of information about you and your vehicle. This information helps us find the terms that you qualify for and helps us pair you with one of our trusted lending partners.

What kind of vehicles can I refinance through Caribou?

We currently work with all passenger vehicles including cars, trucks and SUVs. At this time, we are unable to offer refinancing for motorcycles and any commercial vehicles.

Can I refinance my lease through Caribou?

No, we do not currently offer auto lease buyouts.

How can I learn more about auto refinancing?

To learn more about refinancing your car and how it works, visit our understanding auto refinancing page.

What is APR?

The annual percentage rate (APR) is the total yearly cost of borrowing money. Learn about how APR is calculated in our auto refinance term glossary.

I picked my refinance loan option. What’s next?

Once you’ve selected the loan option that works best for you, you’ll lock in your rate by creating an account and uploading a few documents using our secure online platform.

How do I upload my documents?

When it’s time to upload your documents, there’s a few different ways you can send them. You can upload via the online platform or send your documents using email or text messaging. Read more about how to send us your documents.

Does Caribou offer products that can preserve the value of my vehicle?

Yes. If your refi is eligible, you’ll have the option to select Total Loss Protection, Extended Vehicle Protection, Key Replacement, and other products! Visit our Products page to learn more about these tools to help you protect the value of your vehicle.

I’m interested in checking my rates. What’s involved?

To check your rates through Caribou, you’ll fill out a short application that provides us with general information about you, your current auto loan, and your vehicle. Then our technology gets to work, searching for competitive refi loan options for you in minutes. If you qualify, you’ll see offers from our lenders with no obligation, no impact to your credit score,+ and no SSN required.++ Learn about the application steps.

Will checking my rate impact my credit score?

No. To check the rates and terms you qualify for, we conduct a soft credit pull that will not affect your credit score. However, if you choose a loan product and continue your application, we or one of our lending partners will request your full credit report from one or more consumer reporting agencies, which is considered a hard credit pull and may affect your credit.

What information do you need about my vehicle?

When checking your rate, we’ll need either your VIN, license plate number or make/model/trim of your vehicle. This is because we’ll use the value of your vehicle to find you the refi loan options available to you.

Where can I find my VIN number?

You can find your VIN where the dash and windshield meet on the driver’s side of your vehicle and on the end of the driver’s side door. You can also find your VIN on your vehicle’s registration paperwork and insurance card.

Can I refi with a co-borrower?

Yes. With Caribou, you can add a co-borrower to your new loan, as long as you’re a resident of a state allowing the addition of a co-borrower.

Do you need my social security number?

You can view your refi offers without submitting a Social Security Number (SSN). However, in order to complete your application and lock in your savings, you will need to provide your SSN as part of your loan application. Your privacy is important to us, and we use the latest security methods to ensure that your personal information stays safe.

Will I need to confirm my income?

To provide you with competitive offers, our lending partners may require that we confirm your income via documents you submit (e.g., a pay stub or W-2). To be approved, the income stated on your loan application must match what is reported in your submitted documents.

Are there any fees involved with my refi?

Caribou provides services to the lender to help close your loan, such as processing documents and retitling your vehicle. Caribou charges the lender a $399 processing fee solely to cover the costs of these services. Your lender may include the $399 processing fee or other fees in your refinanced loan amount and in the APR that your lender will disclose to you.