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Upgrade Auto Refinance Loan Review

Reviews 42,806
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Excellent
Reviews 42,806
Danielle Greving
Jun. 23, 2024
4 min read
Danielle Greving author image
Upgrade Summary
Founded in 2017 in San Francisco, Upgrade is a financial technology company that offers auto-refinancing loans. Upgrade also offers personal loans, credit lines, and checking accounts. Auto loans are available for vehicles less than 10 years old with fewer than 130,000 miles (150,000 for trucks). You cannot get a loan for a newly-purchased vehicle. The loans are issued by Upgrade’s banking partners, Blue Ridge Bank and Cross River Bank.

Pros

  • No prepayment penalties
  • Check rates without a hard credit inquiry
  • A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau
  • Sign up for autopay to receive lower rates

Cons

  • No refinancing for motorcycles, RVs, commercial or salvaged cars
  • No auto loans for new purchases

Upgrade at a glance

8.8
Editorial score

Online experience

Has learning resources, access to rates, mobile app
10.0

Customer services and support

Multiple ways of reaching lender, wide range of hours
8.0

Loan Types

Niche lender
6.0

Repayment Flexibility

Offers flexible and personalized repayment plans
10.0

Eligibility

Accepts all credit types
10.0

Upgrade Upgrade Visit Upgrade

Suitable For?

Upgrade is suitable for anyone who’s looking to refinance a vehicle to receive a lower loan rate. To qualify, you need to have a vehicle that is less than 10 years old and has less than 130,000 miles on it—150,000 for trucks. 

The company does not offer new auto loans, and it does not provide loans for RVs, motorcycles, or commercial or salvaged vehicles. Additionally, you need to have more than $5,000 left on your loan and your vehicle needs to be at least 3 months old to qualify for refinancing. There is no minimum credit score requirement. However, your credit score will help determine your loan rate. 

Features

Upgrade allows you to apply for an auto-refinance loan directly through its website. The company will only perform a soft credit inquiry when you apply, so your credit score won’t be affected. You won’t be charged any prepayment penalties, and you can receive reliable support when applying to make the process as quick as possible. 

Upgrade also allows you to set up autopay so you never miss a payment. Setting up autopay can also help you qualify for lower rates. Upgrade also offers:

  • Credit monitoring
  • Personal line of credit
  • Personal loans
  • Plus Deposits: Checking and Savings

Application Process

You can apply for an Upgrade auto-refinance loan in a few minutes through the company’s website. First, you’ll need to enter some basic information about yourself and your vehicle. This  includes the vehicle’s year, make, and model. You will also need to provide your name, address, date of birth, and income. 

Then, you’ll be asked to create an account through the website so you can continue to provide the necessary application information. Once this is done, you’ll be asked to provide the name of your lender, the remaining balance on your loan, the loan open date, and your monthly payment amount. After filling out this information, you’ll be prompted to allow Upgrade to run a free soft credit inquiry. 

Then, you’ll receive a personalized rate in as little as 2 minutes. These rates are determined based on your credit score and loan payment history. Once you choose an offer you like best, an Upgrade support representative will contact you to help you with the title transfer process, and they’ll take care of paying off your previous lender. 

Loan Types and Terms

Upgrade offers auto-refinancing loans but not new auto loans. APRs range from 6.04% - 18.94%. Here are the requirements to qualify for an Upgrade loan: 

  • Cars must have under 130,000 miles and trucks must have under 150,000 miles
  • Cannot use the loan for motorcycles, RVs, or commercial or salvaged vehicles 
  • Must have an existing loan that’s more than 3 months old and has a remaining balance of more than $5,000
  • The vehicle must be for personal use and no older than 10 years 

Repayment Options

You will have 36-84 months to pay off your auto-refinance loan. The repayment term you’re offered will depend on your remaining loan amount. If you wish, you can set up autopay, which in some cases can qualify you for a lower rate. 

How Safe Is It?

Upgrade creates its loans through two trusted financial institutions, Blue Ridge Bank and Cross River Bank. Blue Ridge Bank has been in business since 1958, and Cross River Bank has been in business since 2008. 

To log into your Upgrade account, you will need to provide a username and password. However, two-factor authentication when logging in is not available. The company also has a form on its website that allows you to submit a report regarding security-related issues. 

Additionally, Upgrade has an A+ rating on the Better Business Bureau and a score of 4.6/5.0 on Trustpilot. 

Help & Support

You can contact Upgrade's customer support via email or phone. Phone support is available at 844-319-3909 Monday-Friday from 5am to 7pm PT and Saturday-Sunday from 6am to 5pm PT. 

Email support is available at support@upgrade.com. Upgrade also offers an online help center where you can find answers to questions about the company and its products.  

How Upgrade Compares


Upgrade
Auto Approve
RateGenius
APR
6.04% - 18.94%
From 2.94%
From 2.99%
Minimum credit score
None
Varies by state and matched lender
550
Loan amounts
$5,000 - $65,000
Varies by state and matched lender
$10,000 - $100,000
Loan term
36, 48, 60, 66, 72 and 84 months
12-84 months
Up to 84 months
Best for
Those looking for an easy online application
Those who want help finding the best deal
Those looking for access to a wide range of lenders

Summary

Upgrade offers auto-refinancing loans with no prepayment penalties to those who own cars with less than 130,000 miles or trucks with less than 150,000 miles. To qualify for an Upgrade loan, your vehicle needs to be less than 10 years old, and you need to have owned it for at least three months and have at least $5,000 left to pay off. 

Prospective borrowers can easily apply for a loan through the company’s website in just a couple of minutes. When you apply, Upgrade will only perform a soft credit inquiry, so you don’t have to worry about your credit score being affected. 

Upgrade loans are not available in Iowa, Nevada, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Vermont, West Virginia, and Washington D.C.

After the credit check, you’ll get an email with next steps and an Upgrade representative will contact you to help you through the rest of the loan process. Customer service is readily available via phone and email, or you can check out the company’s FAQ page. 

Upgrade is a solid option for those looking to work with a trusted auto-refinancing lender, as the company has a high Trustpilot score and an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. 

Physical Address

275 Battery Street, 23rd Floor

San Francisco, CA 94111, USA

Upgrade Upgrade Visit Upgrade

Methodology

This review was compiled using information from the company’s website. 

Disclaimer

Auto refinance loans through Upgrade feature Annual Percentage Rates (APRs) of 6.04% - 18.94%. Lowest rates require Autopay. The APR on your loan may be higher or lower and your loan offers may not have multiple term lengths available. Actual rate depends on credit score, credit usage history, loan term, and other factors. Late payments or subsequent charges and fees may increase the cost of your fixed rate loan. There is no fee or penalty for repaying a loan early. Eligible vehicles must be 10 years old or newer and have less than 130,000 miles (or less than 150,000 for trucks).

Danielle Greving author image
Written by
Danielle Greving
Danielle Greving is a tech and finance writer at BestMoney.com, specializing in personal loans and mortgages. Her work has appeared in MoneyTips, CoinMarketCap and GraniteShares. An avid traveler and former ESL teacher, Danielle blends technical and financial knowledge into accessible insights for everyday readers.
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