Can I Pay Off My Car Loan Early?

Many Orange Park and St. Augustine drivers are wondering if it’s possible to pay off their car loan early. And the good news is, you can! There are many benefits to doing so if you have it in your budget to put more toward your loan each month and we’re going to walk you through how and when it’s best for you to do so you can determine if it’s a good choice for you. In this guide, the finance team at Honda of the Avenues covers the following topics:

• When paying off a car loan early is or isn’t a good idea
• How to pay off a car loan early

We can help guide you through the process and show up tips and tricks to help you achieve this goal. If you’re interested in learning how and when it’s best for you to pay off your loan early, continue reading below!

Is it Good to Pay Off a Car Loan Early?

It is possible to pay off a car loan early, but that diligence and strategic financial planning will reward you with lower interest paid overall, decreased chances of becoming upside down on your loan, a lower debt-to-income ratio, and you’ll be one step closer to financial freedom. With less to worry about, you have more time to spend on the things that matter and we think you and all our other Neptune Beach drivers deserve that peace of mind too. 

When Paying Off a Car Loan Early Makes Sense

• You have little or no other debts to take care of and would like to get your car loan paid off so you can free up money for other expenses
• You have enough extra funds saved up or enough wiggle room in your budget that making larger monthly car payments won’t affect your emergency funds and other finances
• You are attempting to lower your monthly expenses to plan for a larger financial goal, such as entering retirement or growing your family
• You’re looking to improve your debt-to-income ratio

When Paying Off a Car Loan Early Isn’t the Best Option

• You don’t have many extra funds set aside for emergencies
• If you have an exceptionally good interest rate, it may be smarter to just continue making on-time payments in the agreed-upon monthly amount. The money you’d use to pay your loan off early could be better served if you set it aside in a retirement fund or for a future financial goal, such as a mortgage.
• You’re using your on-time, set monthly payments to build your credit history or raise your credit score
• Some car loan agreements include prepayment penalties. If this is the case, you would of course want to avoid those penalties by adhering to your regularly scheduled payment amount. 

How to Pay Off a Car Loan Early

There are a few methods you can follow to pay off your car loan early. Take a look to determine which route makes the most sense for yourself:

• Make Bi-Weekly Payments – Check with your lender first to ensure it’s okay to use this technique; divide your monthly car payment by two, then make that payment amount every two weeks. Using this method, you will effectively be making 13 full payments per year rather than 12. 
• Round Up Your Payment Each Month – Each time you make a monthly payment, round up the amount to the nearest $50.
• Make One Extra Payment Each Year in One Lump Sum – If you’d rather not round up for each monthly payment using the above method, you can instead choose to make one large extra payment per year to achieve the same interest savings. 
• Resist the Temptation of Skipping a Payment – Believe it or not, some lenders allow you to skip one or even two car loan payments per year. This may be tempting if you’re in the midst of a rough month financially, but it will only lengthen your loan term and tack on more interest.
• Refinance with a New Car Loan – Once you’ve made one or two years’ worth of on-time, in-full payments, you might be a good candidate for refinancing. Of course, you should only refinance if it’s securing you a lower interest rate. The lower interest rate will lower your monthly payment, making it easier to pay more than what’s required each month so you can pay off your loan early.

Learn More with Honda of the Avenues!

Paying off your car loan early can be the right choice for you, but if you aren’t sure, don’t hesitate to reach out to our Jacksonville finance center team and they’ll help set you on the right path. If you’d like more information on how paying off your car loan earlier than planned, contact us at Honda of the Avenues. Then be sure to take a look at our new vehicle inventory to start looking for your next new car!