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Upstart Auto Refinance Loan Review 2025

Our review of Upstart's auto refinancing looks at loan requirements, customer experience, affordability and more.
Last updated on June 18, 2025
Shannon Bradley
Written by 
Lead Writer & Content Strategist
Tina Orem
Edited by 
Editor & Content Strategist
Fact Checked
Shannon Bradley
Written by 
Lead Writer & Content Strategist
Tina Orem
Edited by 
Editor & Content Strategist
Fact Checked

Many or all of the products on this page are from partners who compensate us when you click to or take an action on their website, but this does not influence our evaluations or ratings. Our opinions are our own.

Why trust NerdWallet
  • 45+ auto loan products reviewed and rated by our team of experts.
  • 30+ years of combined experience covering financial topics.
  • Objective, comprehensive star rating system assessing 4 categories and 60+ data points across direct lenders and aggregators.
  • Governed by NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
NerdWallet's auto loans content, including articles, reviews and recommendations, is produced by a team of writers and editors who specialize in consumer lending. Their work has appeared in Nasdaq, MSN, MarketWatch, Yahoo! Finance and other national and regional media outlets. They have also appeared on NerdWallet's "Smart Money" podcast.

Auto loan reviews

Upstart
The Nerdy headline:

Upstart takes a more holistic view of creditworthiness when approving auto refinancing applicants. Upstart does not have minimum credit history or credit score requirements, and it takes into consideration criteria such as education and occupation.

Auto loan refinancing review

Upstart

4.5
NerdWallet rating
Est. APR
6.60-35.99%
Loan amount
$6,000 - $100,000
Min. credit score
None
on Upstart's website

Pros

  • Pre-qualification with a soft credit check is available to all applicants.

  • Bases loan approval on a wider range of criteria than similar companies.

  • Does not charge application or processing fees.

  • Provides 24/7 customer support.

  • Retains servicing and support for the duration of the loan.

Cons

  • Doesn't allow co-borrowers or co-signers.

  • No APR rate discount with automatic payment.

  • APRs provided to NerdWallet tend to be slightly higher than other aggregators.

Best for applicants who want to see pre-qualified auto refinancing offers from multiple lenders without affecting their credit scores. Also, may be a good fit for borrowers who would benefit from broader approval criteria.

Upstart loan terms and requirements

Auto refinance loans

Loan terms available.

24-84 months.

Maximum vehicle age.

10 years.

Maximum vehicle mileage.

100,000 miles.

Maximum loan-to-value ratio.

DId not disclose.

About Upstart: a closer look

Among lenders that offer auto loan refinancing, Upstart is unique in its approach to loan underwriting and approval. While other lenders rely most heavily on an applicant’s credit scores, Upstart says it considers other factors like employment and education for a more comprehensive view of a borrower’s creditworthiness.

Upstart is an auto loan aggregator, which means it works with a network of lenders to match applicants to the best possible loan offer they can qualify for. Upstart pre-qualifies with a soft credit inquiry which does not affect applicant credit scores. When a borrower accepts and moves forward with a loan offer, it results in a hard credit inquiry which does lower credit scores a bit, but only temporarily.

Unlike most other auto refinancing marketplaces, Upstart maintains auto loan servicing for the duration of the loan, instead of passing it to the lender. That means borrowers have the continuity of working with Upstart from the initial application until paying off the loan.

To review and rate auto lenders, NerdWallet writers gather information about customer experience, transparency, loan affordability, loan requirements and flexibility. Upstart stands out for a simple end-to-end application process, which it says takes minutes to complete from starting the application to seeing rates. Through integrations with the Department of Motor Vehicles registration records in all states where Upstart offers loans, it can automatically pull vehicle details, such as VIN or license plate number.

🤓

Nerdy Tip

Upstart can help you shop many lenders with one application. However, be aware that aspects of your loan — such as interest rates, fees and level of customer service — will depend on the lender you are matched with and choose.

Do you qualify for an Upstart auto refinance loan?

Here are Upstart's borrower requirements to qualify for an auto refinancing loan. Because Upstart works with many different lenders, some requirements shown are the lowest and highest among all lending partners. Meeting these requirements doesn’t guarantee approval. Also, some lenders (as well as Upstart) may be more flexible with requirements when taking into account an applicant's total financial picture.

Minimum credit score

None.

Minimum credit history

None.

Minimum annual gross income

$12,000.

Maximum debt-to-income ratio

50%.

Co-applicants allowed?

Does not allow co-signers or co-borrowers.

States covered

Not available in IA, MD, NV and WV.

Other restrictions

Says there are bankruptcy-related restrictions but did not provide details.

Other Upstart details

  • Pre-qualification and preapproval. The company says all eligible applicants receive the best pre-qualified offer from its network of lenders. Pre-qualification is based on a soft credit check, so it will not affect credit scores.

  • Upfront fees. Does not charge any application or processing fees.

  • Interest rate discounts. None of Upstart's lending partners offer an APR discount with automatic payment.

  • Refinancing time restrictions. Upstart has a waiting period before a person can refinance after completing the previous loan. The waiting period can be up to six months. Also, the previous loan must have at least 12 months remaining on its term.

  • Deferred payments. Upstart offers deferred payments for up to 30 days at the beginning of a loan.

  • Contacting Upstart. During the application process, borrowers can reach Upstart by phone and email. Support is available 24/7.

Upstart may be a good fit for those who:

  • Have a thin or limited credit history. Upstart uses factors beyond credit history, like level of education and occupation, to make a decision.

  • Want to compare rates and terms. Upstart requests offers from its lending partners and determines the best lender match. Within minutes of submitting their information, applicants see multiple offers from a single lender that includes various terms and estimates for rate and payment.

  • Prefer a simple online application process. Upstart's process is 100% digital, from application to document upload and e-signing. It has the ability to prefill some application information, such as pulling vehicle details from the DMV or personal information for returning Upstart customers.

Before you apply to Upstart

Check your credit. You can get your free credit report on NerdWallet or at AnnualCreditReport.com. If you find errors, file a credit dispute to correct them before you apply for an auto loan.

Figure what monthly payment you can afford. Use an auto loan calculator to determine what APR and repayment term you need to get monthly car payments that fit your budget. An auto loan refinance calculator shows how much you can potentially save.

Gather your documents and information. Upstart requires the following to submit an initial application: Address, phone, email, birthdate, income and basic vehicle information.

How to apply for an Upstart auto loan

  1. Pre-qualify on Upstart's website. From the home page, select Borrow, Refinance Your Car and Check Your Rate. You'll be asked to provide personal, vehicle and current loan information. If possible, Upstart will automatically pull some information, prefill the application and simply ask you to confirm it. When you apply to pre-qualify, you'll also be asked to create an Upstart account with an email and password.

  2. Make a decision about your loan offer. If you pre-qualify, Upstart will present an offer from a single lender that it determines is the best fit. This offer shows the loan term and estimates for interest rate, monthly payment and total interest you will pay. If you decide to accept the offer, you may be asked to provide additional information and documentation for final approval. Also, expect a hard credit inquiry on your credit report, which will cause a temporary dip in your credit scores. Through your account dashboard, you will work with Upstart employees to complete the loan process. Upstart pays off the previous loan and updates your car title.

How do we review auto loan aggregators?

NerdWallet's review process surveys companies that offer any combination of new car purchase loans, used car purchase loans, auto refinance loans (traditional and/or cash-out) and lease buyout loans. These companies include direct lenders and aggregators; the latter group doesn't have in-house loan products but matches borrowers to third-party lenders within a network. Our aim is to provide an independent assessment of providers to help arm you with information to make sound, informed judgements on which ones will best meet your needs. We adhere to strict guidelines for editorial integrity.

Because aggregators are not the actual lender and servicing of the loan passes to the lender in most cases, NerdWallet focuses most heavily on the front end of the loan process. This includes level of service/support and transparency, with less focus on the actual loan product. In all, our survey for aggregators includes more than 60 data points. NerdWallet independently confirms product details and, when necessary, follows up with company representatives. At least two writers and an editor verify the facts for every lender review to ensure data are accurate.

To receive a star rating, an aggregator must respond to NerdWallet’s annual auto loans survey. Star ratings are then assessed from poor (one star) to excellent (five stars).

For more details about the categories considered when rating aggregators and our process, read our full methodology.

  • The auto loan APR range NerdWallet displays is provided by the aggregator. We make every attempt to keep rates updated, by sending out bimonthly rate surveys and encouraging aggregators to send us updates when rates change. We also compare these rates to APRs on the aggregator's website, if available. The accuracy of our rates depends on the information aggregators provide to us. It’s always a good idea to check average auto loan interest rates, and compare to similar aggregators or lenders, to determine if the provided rate seems realistic.

    We ask aggregators to provide the lowest rate among their lending partners without including any potential rate discounts. The lowest rates shown are typically available only to borrowers with good or excellent credit (a FICO score of 690 and above).

    We also ask aggregators for the highest rate among their lending partners, which typically reflects rates available to borrowers with fair or bad credit (a FICO score in the mid-600s or below). The highest interest rates result in higher monthly payments and more total interest paid.

    Actual rates received by this aggregator’s auto loan borrowers may be different from the rates shown in this review.

Compare refinance
Lender
Est. APR
Loan amount
Min. credit score
7.24- 16.04%
$5,000- $100,000
660
Visit Lenderon LightStream's website
on LightStream's website
4.99- 17.99%
$3,000- $250,000
500
Visit Lenderon Gravity Lending's website
on Gravity Lending's website
5.24- 24.99%
$6,000- $150,000
480
Visit Lenderon Auto Approve's website
on Auto Approve's website
5.48- 28.55%
$5,000- $200,000
580
5.19- 21.99%
$6,000- $150,000
540
View more

Frequently asked questions

  • Upstart is an AI-lending marketplace that offers consumer loan products, including auto loan refinancing. It is based in San Mateo, California. Upstart is accredited by the Better Business Bureau with an A+ rating. Online customer reviews tend to be positive.

  • Upstart offers a range of loan products in addition to auto loan refinancing, including personal loans, small business loans and debt consolidation.

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