5 ways to get out of an upside-down car loan

1. Make extra repayments

One of the simplest ways to get out of an upside-down car loan is to make extra repayments. This reduces your balance until you’re back above water and get you out of debt faster.

Before you get started, calculate your negative equity — the difference between your loan balance and how much your car is worth.

Negative equity = Your loan balance – your car’s value

Negative equity gives you an idea of how much you need to repay to flip your loan right-side up and how long it’ll take.

How much is my car worth?

You can figure out how much your car is worth by getting it appraised by a mechanic. You can also get a ballpark idea from an online site like Edmunds, the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA), Blue Book or Kelley Blue Book.

2. Refinance with another lender

Refinancing involves trading in your car loan for another, ideally with more favorable rates and terms. Refinancing for a shorter term could be a good option if you can afford to pay off your loan early but your lender charges prepayment penalties.

Generally, you need to have good to excellent credit and a low debt-to-income (DTI) ratio to get the best deal on refinancing. Refinancing also might not be the best choice if you have a large amount of negative equity, since some lenders have maximum loan-to-value (LTV) ratios for refinancing applicants.

Compare auto refinancing offers

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Name	Product	Filter Values	Minimum credit score	APR	Loan term	Requirements
PenFed Auto Loans			Varies	2.99% (Starting at)	Up to 10 years	Active membership with PenFed	Low APR car loans from a well-known credit union.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
LendingClub Auto Refinancing			Fair or better credit	7% to 24.99%	From 2 years	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 More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Ally Clearlane			640	3.74% to 7.49%	3 to 7 years	Monthly income of $2,000+, live in an eligible US state, ages 18+	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
SuperMoney Auto Loan Refinancing			600	Varies by lender	Varies by lender	Car must be less than 10 years old with fewer than 150,000 miles. Fair to excellent credit, an income source, US Citizen or Permanent Resident, 18+ years old	Find an offer and get rates from competing lenders without affecting your credit score.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
LendingTree			Good to excellent credit	Starting at 3.09%	Varies by lender	18+ years old, good to excellent credit, US citizen	Compare multiple financing options for auto refinance, new car purchase, used car purchase and lease buy out.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
MotoRefi Car Loan Refinancing			525	2.99% (as low as)	1 to 6 years	Must have an income of at least $2,000/month and have a vehicle with less than 100,000 miles.	A car loan connection service for borrowers looking to refinance.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
RateGenius Auto Loan Refinance			510	2.99% (as low as)	Varies	Income of $2,000+/month, vehicle has less than 150,000 miles and is no older than 8 years, loan balance is between $10,000 and $100,000, debt-to-income ratio is less than 50%	Connect with a network of over 150 lenders to refinance your car loan.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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How auto loan refinancing works

3. Sell your car

When extra repayments and refinancing aren’t an option, you can sell your car to a private party and use the profits to pay off most of your loan. You’ll still be responsible for the rest of the balance — and be out of a car. But it could prevent you from defaulting on your car loan and taking a hit to your credit score.

Consider making repairs or having your car detailed so you can up the price — or at the very least give it a good wash. The more you’re able to sell it for, the more you’ll save.

4. Trade it in for a less-expensive car

If you’d rather not sell your car, you can also trade it in at a dealership for a less-pricy used vehicle. Try to go for a car with a value that’s close to your loan balance.

But watch out for dealership financing: It’ll often roll what’s left of your old loan into the new one, which could land you with another upside-down car loan.

5. Consider credit counseling

If none of these options seem viable, consider signing up for a session with a credit counseling agency. These nonprofit organizations can help you figure out your best plan of action and come up with strategies to better manage your personal finances.

The Department of Justice has a list of government-approved credit counseling agencies on its website.

How does a car loan become upside down?

A car loan can go underwater in several situations. Financing a new car with a long term is one common way — especially if that term is longer than 60 months.

Having a high interest rate, foregoing a down payment or buying a car that’s out of your budget can also lead to an upside-down car loan. And rolling over a previous loan during a trade-in also puts your loan at risk of becoming upside down.

How to avoid going upside down on a car loan next time

Here are a few strategies to keep your car loan above water the next time around:

• Buy a used car. Used cars depreciate at a much slower rate than new cars — a new car drops 10% in value the minute you drive it off the lot.
• Opt for a lease instead. Since you’re essentially renting the car for a few years, the car’s value isn’t your responsibility.
• Make a sizable down payment. Putting at least 20% down when you buy a car reduces your loan balance, lowering the likelihood of it becoming upside down.
• Go for a shorter term. A short term on a car loan means your repayments can better keep up with your car’s rate of depreciation while also helping you save on interest.
• Get gap insurance. Unlike standard car insurance policies, gap insurance covers the difference between what your car is worth and the amount you owe on it — should you get into an accident.

Bottom line

There’s more than one way out if your car loan is worth more than the value of your vehicle, especially if you have good credit. Not sure which is right for you? Consider calculating your negative equity and going from there. For more information on how car loans work, check out our guide to auto financing.

Frequently asked questions

• Can I give my car back to the finance company?

  You can voluntarily give up your car for repossession if you’re seriously under water, but that doesn’t cancel out your loan. You’ll still owe the difference between what your lender was able to sell your car for and the outstanding balance on your loan. Voluntary repossession also shows up as a negative mark on your credit report, so avoid it if possible.

• What happens if I don't do anything?

  You’ll pay your loan off as scheduled and have an upside-down car loan for longer. Generally, this just means you could end up paying a lot more out of pocket if you get into an accident. And you might not have the funds available to pay for a new car until your current loan is paid off.

• Can I use a debt settlement program to get out of an upside-down car loan?

  Generally, no. Debt settlement programs are typically designed for unsecured debt — a car loan uses your car as collateral, so it wouldn’t qualify.

  However, you might benefit from reaching out to your lender and explaining the situation. They might be willing to rework your repayment plan to help you get out of debt faster.