Upstart auto loan refinance review

Upstart reviews and complaints

Upstart is accredited with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and holds the highest possible rating of A+. Reviews on BBB aren’t great, with a low star rating. The auto loan refi product is new, so nearly all reviews reflect other products, such as personal loans and debt consolidation. Most of the reviews on BBB describe issues with repayment, high rates, disappointment with not being approved and struggles with the hardship repayment options.

On the flipside, Upstart’s Trustpilot rating is impressive with a 4.9-star rating — one of the highest we’ve seen for a lending platform. There are over 38,000 reviews, with 97% being 5-star. Less than 1% of the reviews on Trustpilot are 1-star, many of which cite poor customer service and being unhappy with the late fees. Nearly all reviews are in reference to other products or the company as a whole.

But we’re taking these negative reviews with a grain of salt. The vast majority of reviews cite fast service, quick turnaround, great customer service, helpful staff, easy application and a hassle-free experience overall.

How Upstart compares to other lenders

If you have decent credit, you may be able to qualify for lower rates with other lenders or lending marketplaces. Select Go to site to learn more about a specific lender or marketplace.

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Name	Product	Filter Values	Minimum credit score	APR	Loan term	Requirements
Upstart Auto loan refinance			None	6.96% to 29.99%	2 to 7 years	Annual income of at least $12,000, 18+ years old, vehicle is less than 12 years old and has less than 140,000 miles,No bankruptcies or public records on credit report within the past 3 years,No accounts that are currently in collections	Go to siteMore Info Compare	loading Fetching your data...
LendingClub Auto Refinancing			Fair or better credit	3.99% to 24.99%		Car must be less than 10 years old with fewer than 120,000 miles. Current loan must have a balance between $5,000 and $55,000 and at least 24 months left in its term.	Lower your monthly car payments and save on interest through a fast and easy online application process.	Go to site Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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Upstart rates, fees and terms

Rates range from 6.96% to 29.99% APR — a pretty large range. Loan terms range from 24 months to 84 months, which is pretty standard in auto loans.

Rates, loan amounts and loan terms vary depending on your credit score. However, since we’re talking about auto loan refinancing, the size of the loan you can get is almost completely dependent on your vehicle’s current market value. Upstart amounts range from $9,000 to $60,000, and the maximum loan amount in New Jersey is $50,000.

Upstart charges origination fees, between 0% to 12% of your target loan amount. However, it doesn’t charge prepayment penalties or application fees — pretty typical in the auto lending space. However, there is a late fee: a flat $15 fee or 5% of past due amount.

Upstart qualifications

Upstart’s auto loan refi product may be best suited for borrowers with less-than-ideal credit who may struggle to qualify with traditional lenders, such as banks or credit unions.

Upstart has a few base requirements, which include:

• Maximum vehicle age of 12 years
• Maximum vehicle mileage of 140,000 miles
• Annual income of at least $12,000
• No bankruptcies or public records on your credit report within the past 3 years
• Be the age of majority in your state
• Credit score of at least 510 in most states

Upstar isn’t available in Maryland or Nevada. It also doesn’t accept cosigners or co-borrowers when applying for auto loan refinancing. However, co-owners on your current auto loan are accepted.

Personal requirements

You’ll need to enter this information to fully apply:

• Date of birth
• Social Security number or ITIN
• Address, phone number and email address
• Employment status and annual income
• Employer name
• Auto insurance information
• Highest level of education and school’s information
• Amount of money in your savings account and investment amounts

Vehicle requirements

Upstart states it asks for:

• A copy of your vehicle registration card
• Proof of insurance
• A co-owner consent form (if applicable)
• Proof of open claim or second lien resolution

How the application works

Upstart is a nontraditional lending platform in that it’s not a direct lender or a connection service — it partners with banks to fund loans. It uses around 1,000 factors to determine your eligibility before listing an offer. In addition to your credit score, Upstart’s underwriting process considers your education level, employment history, income and many other factors.

Upstart’s initial soft credit check application takes less than a few minutes to complete. It’s also integrated with the DMV, so it can pull your vehicle’s information based on your personal information and registration — pretty convenient.

Once you complete the application, Upstart determines whether you’re eligible for auto loan refinancing. If you select an offer, you’ll need to complete the full application with a hard credit pull, and Upstart verifies your registration and reviews insurance coverage.

If you accept a loan, Upstart ensures your previous loan is successfully paid off, and the process takes around one to two weeks. After the loan is disbursed, Upstart handles the title administration process — which takes another 30 to 60 days, which is typical with auto loan refinancing.

What sets it apart

Upstart standout feature is looking at additional factors when considering your application, such as education and work history. For those with a sparse credit history, college students or young adults just entering the borrowing game, Upstart can be a decent way to find an auto refi loan that can work within your means and situation.

However, Upstart states the average five-year loan offered will have an APR of 13.25%. If you have good credit, it may be worth your time to look elsewhere. And rates can reach up to nearly 30% — a terrible rate when it comes to vehicle refinancing. If you have a higher rate than 13.25% and poor credit, that’s when it may be worth applying.

For more options, compare other auto loan refinancing offers.

And, if you’re interested in other types of loans, Upstart offers personal loans.