It is possible to sell a car even if you still owe money on the loan. This merely adds a step to the sales transaction: closing the loan with your lender. Your best course of action will depend on how you plan to sell the car and whether you have positive or negative equity in the vehicle.
Does selling a financed car hurt your credit?
Sell the vehicle.
If your car is worth as much as or close to the balance on your account, selling it could enable you to pay off the loan without harming your credit.
Will a dealership buy my car if I still owe?
What happens if I still owe money on my trade in car? It’s important that you know the pay-off amount – how much you still owe – and the trade value of the car – how much the dealer is willing to offer you. A dealer will then pay off your old loan and give you a credit for the value of your trade vehicle.
How can I get rid of my financed car?
Pay off the car
The best way to get rid of a car loan is to pay off the balance of the loan. Check with your lender to see if a prepayment penalty will apply. If not, you can make extra principal payments to pay off the loan balance early. Then you will own the car outright and can keep it, sell it or trade it in.
Can I sell my financed car and keep the money? – Related Questions
What happens if you sell a car on finance?
In order to legally sell your car, you must settle any outstanding finance first. If you are caught knowingly deceiving someone into buying a car with outstanding finance, you will be made to pay back what you owe to the finance company. You may also face legal action.
How much will my credit go down if I surrender my car?
“In the grand scheme of your credit score, a voluntary repo is just the same as an involuntary repo. Expect your credit score to drop anywhere from 50 to 150 points, depending on other credit factors. That’s not to say you should sit back and let your lender take your car.
Can I sell my car to CarMax if I still owe on it?
Will CarMax buy my car if I owe on it? Yes. You’ll need to provide loan information so CarMax can pay off the lender. If you owe more than your offer, you will need to cover the difference.
Can I sell my financed car to Carvana?
Yes. Until the sale of your car to Carvana is final, continue to make your normal loan payments to avoid late payment penalties with your lender. Any overpayments will be reimbursed to you.
How soon can you trade in a financed car?
How soon can you trade in a financed car? You can trade in a financed car any time, but you may want to wait a year or more — especially if you bought a new car. Cars depreciate over time.
What if I owe more than my car is worth?
Keep the car you’ve got until you’re above water (until the car is worth more than you owe). Roll the negative balance into your new car loan — this costs you nothing out of pocket, but be aware that you’ll likely be making higher monthly payments and you’ll still have to pay off the negative balance.
How can I get out of a car with negative equity?
How do I get out of an upside-down car loan with negative equity?
- Refinance for a shorter loan term.
- Make extra payments toward the principal.
- Continue paying for the remaining loan term.
- Roll over the negative equity into a lease.
Will dealerships pay off negative equity?
If you have negative equity on the car (as in it’s worth less than what you currently owe), the dealer may still buy the car and pay off the loan, but the difference will be rolled into your new car loan — meaning you’ll still need to pay it off eventually.
Should I trade in my car if I am upside down?
If you’re upside down on your car loan, it’s a good idea to delay your trade-in if you can — unless you are comfortable paying off your negative equity upfront. But if you need a new car soon and a negative equity rollover is your only option, consider buying a used car and borrowing as little as possible.
Can you trade in a financed car with negative equity?
You can transfer negative equity into a new car. This is referred to as rolling over the loan. Dealers can sometimes recommend rolling the negative equity into your next car loan. This is very convenient, but it is not advised.
How do you buy a car that is not paid off?
Here are the details of each option for buying a used car that hasn’t been paid off:
- Ask the Seller to Pay Off the Car Loan.
- Go With the Seller to Pay Off the Lien.
- Set Up an Escrow Account for the Vehicle.
- Get a Loan to Pay the Lien.
- Have a Dealer Broker the Automobile Sale.
- Buy a Certified Pre-Owned Vehicle.