The internet has sometimes been compared to the “Wild West.” It’s a place of both great opportunity and limited rules. What that means in terms of auto refi is that there are incredible options out there if you simply know where to find them. There are endless pitfalls if you don’t.

You could simply enter “refinance my car loan” into your favorite search engine and take your chances with the results. Or, you can rely on an established lender marketplace to help you find reputable online lenders who may want to work with you both now and in the future. Making these connections is a significant part of what we do, and our goal is to make it as easy on you as possible.

You’ll probably want to start by checking your credit score for free on Creditry.com. You can compare the impacts of various interest rates and lengths of your refinancing using one of our online calculators. Or you can take a few days and read up on various auto loan options and terminology on the Loanry.com or related blogs – all on your schedule, using whatever device you prefer, as much or as little as you choose. It’s all up to you.

If it makes you feel better to shower and dress up before moving forward, you’re welcome to do so – but it’s not required and we’ll never ask. You don’t even have to wear shoes!

Proceed as quickly or slowly as you wish. If you have a desktop computer, a laptop, a tablet with a web browser, or most any cell phone, you can submit your request while having your morning coffee or winding down after the kids (or spouse) have finally gone to bed. Access us on your lunch break, while waiting for your haircut, or sitting at the mall waiting on your friends.

Response times vary, but if you’re approved, it’s not unusual for money to be deposited in your account the next day.

There’s no single best way to refinance a car. What makes the most sense depends on your specific circumstances and the options available to you. Obviously we’re happy to help with that part.

But refinancing by its nature suggests you’re doing trying to do more than get a car or finance a purchase. You’re trying to make an improvement in your current debt situation by lowering your payments, reducing your interest rates, or otherwise taking better control of your finances now and for the foreseeable future. Just taking this step indicates you’re invested and attentive and looking at the long game.

It means you’re already ahead of the curve compared to the majority of Americans. Nice.

When you’re able to make your monthly payments on time and in full, you’re doing more than paying down your current debt. You’re investing in the future by strengthening your credit history and raising your credit score. When you decide to buy another vehicle, purchase a home, add a credit card, or otherwise secure financing, you’ll find you have very different options based on what you do today and in the months between now and then. Improving your credit takes time, but it might not take as long as you think. Good choices add up quickly.

Finally, don’t overlook the value of taking care of the car or truck being refinanced. We all know not to drive our car into a pond or run our truck into a wall if we can avoid it, just like we all know to avoid the most obvious credit pitfalls. But that’s not what gets most of us in the long run. It’s the oil changes, the recommended maintenance, keeping the upholstery clean and making sure we avoid bad roads. It’s the regular little things that most often make the difference over time – whether we’re talking about our car or our credit scores.