Upstart Auto Refinancing Loans Review 2026: Rates, Savings & Who Qualifies

PHOENIX, January 19, 2026 (Newswire.com) - Upstart

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Upstart Auto Refinance Guide 2026: How the Platform Works, Eligibility, and What to Compare

What Upstart Is and Is Not

Before diving in, here is the most important distinction to understand. According to Upstart's terms of use and published disclosures, all loans facilitated through Upstart are made by Upstart's bank partners. Upstart operates as the technology platform that connects borrowers with these lending partners. If you are approved for refinancing through their platform, your actual loan will be with a bank or lending institution, not with Upstart directly.

Introduction: Why So Many People Are Reconsidering Their Car Loans Right Now

If you are reading this, chances are you just saw an ad for Upstart Auto Refinancing and decided to do some research before making any decisions. That is exactly the right move.

Maybe the ad mentioned potential savings on your monthly payment. Maybe it talked about looking beyond your credit score. Maybe it simply planted the idea that you might be paying more for your car loan than you need to be.

Whatever brought you here, this guide will give you everything you need to make an informed decision about whether Upstart Auto Refinancing makes sense for your specific situation in 2026.

We will cover how the platform actually works, what the application process looks like, vehicle and borrower eligibility requirements, where the service is available, what realistic expectations look like, how Upstart compares to alternatives, and how to determine whether refinancing is the right financial move for you.

View the current Upstart Auto Refinancing offer (official Upstart page)

Disclosure: If you apply through this link, a commission may be earned at no additional cost to you.

Part One: Understanding What Auto Loan Refinancing Actually Does

Before evaluating any specific refinancing platform, it helps to understand exactly what refinancing accomplishes and why it exists as an option.

The Basic Mechanics of Auto Refinancing

When you refinance a car loan, you are replacing your existing loan with a new one. A new lender pays off your old loan in full, and you begin making payments to the new lender under different terms.

The goal is typically to secure better terms than you currently have. Better terms might mean a lower interest rate, which reduces your monthly payment and the total interest you pay over the life of the loan. Better terms might mean a shorter loan duration, which helps you pay off the car faster even if your monthly payment stays similar. Better terms might mean removing a co-signer from your original loan now that your financial situation has strengthened.

The key question is always whether the new terms represent a meaningful improvement over your current situation. A slightly lower rate might not be worth the effort if you only have a few months left on your loan. A significantly lower rate could save you meaningfully if you have years of payments remaining.

Why People Refinance Car Loans

People pursue auto loan refinancing for several distinct reasons, and understanding your own motivation helps clarify whether refinancing makes sense for you.

Lower Monthly Payments: This is the most common motivation. If you can secure a lower interest rate, your monthly payment decreases, freeing up cash flow for other expenses or savings goals. According to Upstart, approved borrowers who accepted their final terms in September 2025 saw average monthly payment savings of $127. The company notes this figure is an estimate based on consumers approved through the Upstart platform who accepted final terms. Individual results vary and depend on your current APR, remaining term, vehicle details, and the APR and term offered through Upstart-powered lenders.

Reduced Total Interest: Even if you keep the same loan term, a lower rate means less money going toward interest charges over the remaining life of your loan. This is money that stays in your pocket rather than going to a lender.

Faster Payoff: Some borrowers refinance to shorten their loan term. This might keep monthly payments similar but allows you to own your vehicle outright sooner and pay less total interest.

Removing a Co-Signer: If you originally needed a parent, spouse, or other co-signer to qualify for your loan, refinancing in your name only removes that person from the obligation. According to Upstart, if you have a co-borrower on your current car loan, you may apply to refinance in your name only to remove the co-borrower from the loan.

Escaping a Less Favorable Deal: Not all original car loans are created equal. Dealership financing, loans taken during periods of higher rates, or loans accepted when credit profiles were weaker often carry terms that no longer reflect current market conditions or the borrower's improved financial situation.

When Refinancing Makes Mathematical Sense

Refinancing is not automatically beneficial. The math depends on several factors working together.

The rate differential matters significantly. Refinancing to save a fraction of a percentage point on a loan with one year remaining produces minimal savings after accounting for any fees or effort involved. Refinancing to save two or more percentage points on a loan with several years remaining produces more substantial savings.

The remaining loan balance matters because interest savings compound more meaningfully on larger balances. A rate reduction on a $25,000 balance produces more dollar savings than the same rate reduction on a $5,000 balance.

The time remaining on your loan matters because you need enough remaining payment periods for the savings to accumulate. Generally, refinancing makes the most sense when you have at least two years of payments remaining.

Your vehicle's value relative to your loan balance matters because lenders typically will not refinance loans where you owe significantly more than the car is worth. This situation, sometimes called being underwater or having negative equity, can limit refinancing options.

Part Two: How Upstart Auto Refinancing Works

Now that you understand refinancing generally, let us examine how Upstart's platform specifically operates.

Understanding Upstart's Role

As noted above, according to the company's terms of use and published disclosures, all loans facilitated through Upstart are made by Upstart's bank partners. Upstart operates as a technology platform that connects borrowers with these lending partners.

The company uses what they describe as an AI-powered model to evaluate loan applications and match borrowers with appropriate lenders.

This distinction matters because your actual loan, if approved, will be issued by a bank or lending institution rather than by Upstart directly. The terms, rates, and approval decisions are ultimately made by these lending partners based on the information Upstart's system provides.

The Smarter Rate Model

The core differentiator Upstart promotes is what they call their Smarter Rate approach to evaluating borrowers.

According to the company, their model looks beyond traditional credit scores to consider additional factors when determining rates. The company states that these factors may include education and work experience, in addition to the credit history and income verification that all lenders consider.

The company's marketing states that educational information is collected as part of the rate check process. However, according to their published disclosures, neither Upstart nor its bank partners have a minimum educational attainment requirement for loan eligibility. This means not having a college degree does not automatically disqualify you. Having advanced degrees or strong employment history does not guarantee better rates either.

The company positions this as recognizing that borrowers represent more than their credit scores alone. Whether this approach results in different rates for any individual borrower depends entirely on their specific profile and how Upstart's lending partners evaluate that profile. The only way to know what rate Upstart's model would offer you is to start a rate check through their platform.

View the current Upstart Auto Refinancing offer (official Upstart page)

The Three-Stage Application Process

According to Upstart's website, the refinancing process breaks down into three main stages.

Stage One involves checking your rate. You begin by filling out an online form with your personal information, details about your current loan, and information about your vehicle. According to the company, this initial rate check takes just a few minutes to complete.

The critical point about this first stage is the type of credit inquiry involved. According to Upstart's published disclosures, when you check your rate through their platform, they perform what is called a soft credit inquiry. The company states that soft inquiries do not affect your credit score. You may see that the inquiry was made if you view your credit report, but it will not lower your score. This allows you to explore what rate you might qualify for before deciding whether to proceed further.

Stage Two involves verifying your information. If you receive a preliminary rate offer and decide you want to proceed, Upstart will ask you to verify your information, vehicle details, and current car loan. According to the company, you may be asked to provide documents that verify your identity, education, income, and vehicle registration or proof of insurance.

Important note about this stage: according to Upstart's disclosures, if you proceed with a full application after receiving a rate offer, a hard credit inquiry will be completed. The company states this type of inquiry may impact your credit score. This is standard practice across all lenders and is necessary to verify the accuracy of your application before finalizing loan terms. Additionally, according to the company, if you take out a loan, repayment information may be reported to credit bureaus.

Stage Three involves getting your money. If approved, according to Upstart, they handle the payoff process with your previous lender and update the title. The company states that the timeline for completing this process varies by state and depends on factors including how quickly you provide any requested documentation.

What Documents You May Need

According to the company's website, the documentation requirements may include proof of identity, verification of education, income verification, a copy of your vehicle registration card or proof of insurance, and if applicable, documentation related to any co-owner on the vehicle title.

The specific documents requested can vary based on individual circumstances. According to Upstart, any documents needed to process your application will appear on your dashboard after you submit your application.

Part Three: Vehicle and Borrower Eligibility

Understanding eligibility requirements before you begin saves time and helps you determine whether Upstart Auto Refinancing is a potential fit for your situation.

Vehicle Requirements

According to Upstart's published information, eligible vehicles must meet certain criteria.

Vehicle Age: According to the company, vehicles must be less than 13 years old to be eligible for refinancing through the platform.

Vehicle Mileage: According to the company, vehicles must have less than 140,000 miles to be eligible.

If your vehicle does not meet these requirements, you would need to explore refinancing options through other lenders who may have different eligibility criteria.

Co-Borrower and Co-Owner Considerations

According to Upstart, they do not currently allow co-borrowers on refinanced car loans. However, the company states that if you have a co-borrower on your current loan, you may apply to refinance in your name only, effectively removing the co-borrower from the loan obligation.

Regarding co-owners, according to Upstart, they do allow co-ownership. The company states that the co-owner must sign a consent form and provide identification details prior to loan origination. According to Upstart, the co-owner is not responsible for repayment, and their information beyond what is provided in the consent form will not be considered in the credit decision.

Part Four: Examining the Savings Potential

The potential savings that draws many people to Upstart's platform deserves careful examination. Let us look at what the numbers actually mean and how to interpret them realistically.

What the Published Savings Figure Represents

According to Upstart, approved borrowers who accepted their final terms in September 2025 saw average monthly payment savings of $127.

The company provides important context for this figure. According to their disclosures, this is an estimate based on consumers approved through the Upstart platform who accepted final terms. Individual results vary and depend on your current APR, remaining term, vehicle details, and the APR and term offered through Upstart-powered lenders.

How to Interpret Average Savings Claims

Understanding how averages work is crucial for setting realistic expectations.

An average of $127 per month means that some borrowers saved more than $127 monthly and some saved less. The distribution of savings across borrowers is not disclosed, so we cannot know whether most borrowers cluster near the average or whether the average is influenced by outliers.

Borrowers who save the most through refinancing typically share certain characteristics. They often started with higher interest rates on their original loans compared to rates they qualified for at refinancing. They often have substantial remaining balances and multiple years left on their loans. They often experienced improvements in their credit profiles between their original loan and refinancing that qualified them for better rates.

Borrowers who save less or may not benefit from refinancing often have the opposite characteristics. They may already have competitive rates. They may have small remaining balances or short remaining terms. Their credit profiles may not have changed enough to qualify for meaningfully better rates.

Calculating Your Potential Savings

Rather than relying on average figures, you can estimate your personal potential savings by considering a few key factors.

Your current interest rate and remaining balance determine how much you are currently paying in interest. The size of the rate reduction you might qualify for directly determines your potential savings. Your remaining loan term determines how many months those savings accumulate.

The only way to know what rate you might qualify for through Upstart is to start a rate check through their platform, which according to the company involves a soft inquiry that does not affect your credit score.

Part Five: Geographic Availability

Before investing time in the application process, confirm that the service is available where you live.

Where Upstart Auto Refinancing Is Available

Upstart's Help Center notes auto refinancing is currently not available in Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Nevada, Puerto Rico, and West Virginia. Availability can change based on state regulations and lender participation.

The most reliable way to confirm whether the service is currently available in your specific location is to start a rate check through the platform.

If You Live in an Excluded Area

Residents of areas where Upstart Auto Refinancing is not available have several alternatives to consider.

Local credit unions often offer competitive auto refinancing rates and may have more flexible underwriting standards than national banks. Credit unions are member-owned institutions, which can translate to favorable rates and fees for members.

National banks including Capital One, Bank of America, and others offer auto refinancing products with varying geographic availability. Rates and requirements vary by institution.

Other online lending platforms may operate in locations where Upstart does not. Research alternatives that serve your specific location.

Your current lender may offer rate modifications or refinancing options even if external refinancing is not available. Contact them to ask about available options.

Part Six: Comparing Your Refinancing Options

Understanding the broader landscape of auto refinancing helps you determine how Upstart compares to alternatives.

Major Categories of Auto Refinancing Providers

Online Lending Platforms like Upstart connect borrowers with lending partners through technology-driven processes. These platforms often emphasize convenience and speed, with online applications and soft inquiry rate checks. Upstart differentiates by stating their model considers factors beyond traditional credit scores.

Traditional Banks including Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Chase, and Capital One offer auto refinancing through their consumer lending divisions. These institutions have established reputations and branch networks for borrowers who prefer in-person service. Rates and requirements vary by institution, and existing customer relationships may provide benefits.

Credit Unions are member-owned nonprofit institutions that often provide competitive rates. Membership requirements vary, with some credit unions open to broad geographic areas or employer groups while others have more limited eligibility. If you already belong to a credit union or can easily join one, comparing their rates provides useful context.

Other Online Marketplaces including LendingTree, myAutoloan, and others operate similarly to Upstart in connecting borrowers with multiple lending partners. Different platforms work with different lenders and use different evaluation models, so rates can vary between platforms for the same borrower.

Factors to Consider When Comparing

When evaluating any refinancing option, consider the interest rate and APR offered, any fees associated with the loan, the loan term options available, the application process and timeline, customer service availability, and the reputation of the lender or platform.

Since many platforms offer soft inquiry rate checks that do not affect your credit score, comparing offers from multiple sources before committing provides the most complete picture of available options.

Part Seven: Who Is Most Likely to Benefit

Not everyone who applies for refinancing will benefit equally. Understanding who tends to gain the most helps you assess whether you are likely to be among them.

Profiles That Often Benefit From Refinancing

Borrowers whose credit has improved since their original loan represent one of the most common success stories in auto refinancing. If your credit score has increased meaningfully since you first financed your vehicle, you may qualify for better rates than you originally received. This is particularly relevant for people who took out loans when they had limited credit history or were recovering from past credit challenges.

Borrowers who financed through dealerships at higher rates often discover that refinancing produces meaningful savings. Dealer-arranged financing is convenient but not always the most competitive option available. Many borrowers accept dealer rates during the vehicle purchase process without extensive rate shopping, only to realize later that better options may have existed.

Borrowers who took loans during higher rate environments may benefit from refinancing if their circumstances have changed favorably. Interest rate environments fluctuate, and loans originated during certain periods can sometimes be refinanced at better rates when conditions or borrower profiles improve.

Borrowers with strong education and employment backgrounds may find Upstart's model relevant to their situation. Because the company states they consider factors beyond traditional credit scores, individuals with solid educational credentials and stable employment histories might receive different evaluations than credit-score-only approaches would provide. However, having strong education and employment does not guarantee better rates, and outcomes depend entirely on individual profiles and lender decisions.

Borrowers seeking to remove a co-signer can sometimes accomplish this through refinancing. According to Upstart, if you have a co-borrower on your current car loan, you may apply to refinance in your name only to remove the co-borrower from the loan. This may be valuable for adults who originally needed parental co-signers or for individuals who need to separate joint obligations.

Profiles That May Not Benefit as Much

Borrowers who already have competitive rates may find that refinancing offers little improvement. If you originally secured a favorable rate and your situation has remained stable, the rates available through refinancing may not differ enough to justify the effort.

Borrowers with small remaining balances may find that the dollar savings from refinancing do not amount to enough to matter practically. A rate reduction on a small remaining balance produces correspondingly small total savings.

Borrowers with short remaining terms face a similar calculation. Even a meaningful rate reduction produces limited total savings when spread across only a few remaining months.

Borrowers who owe substantially more than their vehicle is worth may face challenges. If you have significant negative equity, many lenders may not approve refinancing regardless of your credit profile.

Borrowers with vehicles that do not meet eligibility requirements will need to explore other options. According to Upstart, vehicles must be less than 13 years old and have less than 140,000 miles.

Borrowers with recent credit challenges may not qualify for better rates than they currently have. Negative items appearing on your credit report since your original loan can work against refinancing success. If your credit profile has challenges, you may want to explore our complete guide to auto loan options for various credit situations to understand what alternatives exist before deciding on a refinancing path.

Part Eight: Self-Assessment Framework

Rather than relying on generalizations, work through these questions to evaluate whether exploring refinancing makes sense for your specific situation.

Questions About Your Current Loan

What is your current interest rate, and how does it compare to rates that might be available to borrowers with your credit profile today? If you are unsure what rates might be available, starting a rate check through a soft inquiry process can provide this information.

How much do you currently owe on your loan, and how much is your vehicle worth? A significant gap where you owe much more than the car's value can complicate refinancing. You can estimate your vehicle's value through resources like Kelley Blue Book or NADA Guides.

How many months remain on your loan? Generally, refinancing becomes more worthwhile with longer remaining terms because the savings have more time to accumulate.

What are your current monthly payment and total remaining payments? Understanding exactly what you are paying now helps you evaluate whether new terms represent a real improvement.

Questions About Your Vehicle

Is your vehicle less than 13 years old? According to Upstart, this is an eligibility requirement.

Does your vehicle have less than 140,000 miles? According to Upstart, this is an eligibility requirement.

If your vehicle does not meet these requirements, you would need to explore refinancing through other lenders with different eligibility criteria.

Questions About Your Financial Profile

Has your credit score improved since you took out your original loan? If you have been making payments on time, paying down other debts, and avoiding new negative items, your score may have increased.

Has your income increased or become more stable since your original loan? Stronger income documentation can support loan applications.

Do you have any negative items like late payments, collections, or other challenges that have appeared since your original loan? These could affect refinancing outcomes.

Are you currently employed with stable income that you can document? Lenders typically require income verification.

Questions About Your Goals

What is your primary motivation for considering refinancing? Lower monthly payments, reduced total interest, faster payoff, and removing a co-signer all represent valid goals but might lead to different decisions about whether to proceed.

How long do you plan to keep your current vehicle? If you intend to sell or trade in your car soon, refinancing may not produce enough savings to matter. If you plan to keep the car for several more years, refinancing savings accumulate more meaningfully.

The Decision Framework

Refinancing may be worth exploring if you can answer yes to most of these statements: Your credit has improved since your original loan. Your current rate appears higher than rates currently available to borrowers with your profile. You have a meaningful balance remaining on your loan. You have at least 18 to 24 months of payments remaining. Your vehicle is worth at least approximately what you owe on it. Your vehicle meets the age and mileage requirements.

Refinancing may be less likely to benefit you if several of these apply: Your credit has declined since your original loan. Your current rate is already competitive. Your remaining balance is very small. Your remaining term is very short. You owe significantly more than your vehicle is worth. Your vehicle does not meet eligibility requirements.

If you fall somewhere in the middle or are unsure, starting a rate check through a soft inquiry process provides useful information. According to Upstart, this type of inquiry does not affect your credit score, so you can see what terms might be available and then make an informed decision about whether to proceed further.

View the current Upstart Auto Refinancing offer (official Upstart page)

Part Nine: The January 2026 Context

Timing matters in financial decisions. Understanding the current environment helps you evaluate whether now is a good time to act.

Why Many Borrowers Reconsider Their Finances in January

The beginning of a new year prompts many people to review their financial situations and look for opportunities to improve. Post-holiday expenses create awareness of monthly obligations. New year intentions often include financial goals. Tax season approaching creates planning energy.

This timing creates what might be considered a natural evaluation point for existing obligations like car loans. The question becomes whether your current loan terms still represent your best available option or whether better alternatives might exist.

Current Rate Environment Considerations

Interest rate environments fluctuate based on economic conditions and other factors. Borrowers who took out loans during certain periods may find different options when rates or their personal circumstances change.

Rather than trying to predict rate movements, the practical approach is to check what rates you currently might qualify for and compare them to your existing terms. If available rates represent meaningful improvement, proceeding may make sense. If available rates are similar to your current terms, you have confirmed your current situation is competitive.

The Value of Acting on Financial Intentions

Financial intentions often fade when not acted upon. The person who thinks about refinancing in January but delays frequently encounters competing priorities as the year progresses.

If refinancing makes mathematical sense for your situation, acting while focused on financial improvement tends to produce better outcomes than indefinite postponement. Starting a rate check provides real information that can either reveal an opportunity or confirm your current terms are already competitive.

Either outcome is valuable. You either discover a potential opportunity to reduce costs or gain confidence that your current situation does not require changes.

Part Ten: Understanding the Credit Inquiry Process

Many borrowers hesitate to check refinancing options because they worry about credit score impact. Understanding how credit inquiries work helps clarify the actual considerations involved.

Soft Inquiries Versus Hard Inquiries

Credit inquiries fall into two categories with different impacts on your credit score.

Soft inquiries occur when a lender checks your credit for pre-qualification purposes without you formally applying for credit. According to Upstart, checking your rate through their platform involves a soft inquiry. The company states that soft credit inquiries do not lower your credit score, though you may see when you view your report that the inquiry was made.

Hard inquiries occur when you formally apply for credit and a lender pulls your full credit report as part of the approval process. These inquiries can lower your credit score by a small amount and remain visible on your credit report. Multiple hard inquiries in a short period can have cumulative effects.

How Upstart's Process Handles Inquiries

According to the company's disclosures, the initial rate check through Upstart uses a soft inquiry that will not affect your credit score. This allows you to see what rate you might qualify for before deciding whether to proceed further.

According to Upstart, if you decide to proceed with a full application after receiving a rate offer, a hard credit inquiry will be completed at that point. The company states this action will be recorded as an inquiry on your report and may impact your credit score. This is standard practice across lenders and is necessary to finalize loan terms.

Additionally, according to the company, if you take out a loan, repayment information may be reported to credit bureaus.

Strategic Implications

The soft inquiry process means starting a rate check provides information about available options before any credit impact occurs. According to Upstart, this initial check will not affect your credit score.

The credit impact described by the company occurs only if you decide to proceed with a full application after seeing your rate, at which point a hard inquiry is performed.

If you plan to check rates with multiple lenders, doing so within a condensed timeframe may be beneficial. Credit scoring models often recognize that borrowers compare options and may treat multiple similar inquiries within a short window more favorably than inquiries spread over longer periods.

Part Eleven: Common Questions and Concerns

Addressing the questions that most commonly arise helps complete your understanding before making any decisions.

Questions About Eligibility and Requirements

What credit score do you need to refinance through Upstart?

The company does not publish a specific minimum credit score requirement on their main refinancing page. According to Upstart, they consider factors beyond credit score alone, including education and work experience. Starting a rate check provides the most direct way to determine what you might qualify for.

What are the vehicle requirements?

According to Upstart, vehicles must be less than 13 years old and have less than 140,000 miles to be eligible for refinancing through the platform.

Can you refinance if you owe more than your vehicle is worth?

Being underwater, meaning you owe more than your vehicle is worth, can complicate refinancing. Many lenders have limitations around negative equity. The rate check process would indicate whether this is an obstacle in your specific situation.

How soon after buying a car can you refinance?

Most lenders require some payment history before considering refinancing. The exact requirement varies. If you purchased your vehicle very recently, checking requirements before investing significant time may be worthwhile.

Can you refinance a leased vehicle?

No. Refinancing applies to vehicle loans where you are purchasing the car, not to leases where you are renting the vehicle from the leasing company.

Questions About the Process

How long does the refinancing process take?

According to Upstart, you can check your rate in minutes through their online form. The full process timeline from application to loan funding varies by state and depends on how quickly you provide any requested documentation. According to the company, they handle paying off your previous lender and updating your title as part of the process.

Does Upstart handle paying off your old lender?

According to the company, yes. Upstart states they handle the payoff process with your previous lender so you do not have to manage that aspect yourself.

What happens to your car title when you refinance?

When you refinance, the title transfers to reflect the new lender as the lienholder. According to Upstart, they manage the title update process as part of the refinancing. The timeline for title updates varies by state.

Questions About Co-Borrowers and Co-Owners

What is the difference between a co-borrower and a co-owner?

According to Upstart, a co-borrower is someone jointly responsible for repaying the loan, while a co-owner jointly owns the vehicle but is not responsible for repayment.

Can you add or remove a co-borrower through Upstart refinancing?

According to Upstart, they do not currently allow co-borrowers on refinanced car loans. However, the company states that if you have a co-borrower on your current loan, you may apply to refinance in your name only, effectively removing the co-borrower from the loan obligation.

What if your vehicle has a co-owner?

According to Upstart, they do allow co-ownership. The company states that the co-owner must sign a consent form and provide identification details prior to loan origination. According to Upstart, the co-owner is not responsible for repayment, and their information beyond what is provided in the consent form will not be considered in the credit decision.

Questions About Costs and Savings

How much can you actually save by refinancing?

According to Upstart, approved borrowers who accepted their final terms in September 2025 saw average monthly payment savings of $127. The company notes this is an estimate based on consumers approved through the Upstart platform who accepted final terms. Individual results vary and depend on your current APR, remaining term, vehicle details, and the APR and term offered through Upstart-powered lenders.

Is refinancing worth it if you only save a small amount?

This is a personal decision based on how much you value the potential savings relative to the effort involved. Starting a rate check helps you see what might be available so you can make an informed decision based on actual numbers rather than assumptions.

Questions About Upstart Specifically

Is Upstart a bank or lender?

No. According to the company's terms of use and published disclosures, all loans facilitated through Upstart are made by Upstart's bank partners. Upstart operates as the technology platform facilitating connections between borrowers and these lending partners.

Where is Upstart Auto Refinancing available?

Upstart's Help Center notes auto refinancing is currently not available in Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Nevada, Puerto Rico, and West Virginia. Availability can change based on state regulations and lender participation.

Part Twelve: Contact Information

For questions about Upstart's auto refinancing service, the company provides the following contact options according to their published materials.

Auto Refinance Support Email: [email protected]
Auto Refinance Support Phone: (650) 239-0672
Borrower Support Phone: 1-855-438-8778

For the most current information about availability, rates, requirements, and processes, visiting Upstart's auto refinance page directly provides access to their current published information.

Closing Considerations

The Case for Starting a Rate Check

For borrowers currently making payments on auto loans, the fundamental question is not whether refinancing is universally good or bad but whether better terms might be available for your specific situation.

Upstart's platform provides one way to explore that question. According to the company, checking your rate involves a soft inquiry that will not affect your credit score. You invest a few minutes and gain information about what terms might be available through their platform.

According to Upstart, their Smarter Rate model considers factors beyond traditional credit scores, including education and work experience. For borrowers with solid backgrounds in these areas whose credit scores may not fully reflect their overall financial profile, this approach may produce different evaluations than traditional methods. However, having strong education and employment does not guarantee any particular outcome, and results depend entirely on individual profiles and lender decisions.

According to the company, they handle the payoff process with your previous lender and update the title, reducing administrative burden on borrowers.

Key Points to Remember

According to Upstart, approved borrowers who accepted their final terms in September 2025 saw average monthly payment savings of $127. This is an estimate based on consumers who were approved and accepted final terms. Individual results vary based on your specific situation.

Upstart's Help Center notes auto refinancing is currently not available in Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Nevada, Puerto Rico, and West Virginia. Availability can change based on state regulations and lender participation. Confirm availability for your location by starting a rate check.

According to Upstart, vehicles must be less than 13 years old and have less than 140,000 miles to be eligible.

According to the company's terms of use and published disclosures, all loans facilitated through Upstart are made by Upstart's bank partners.

The Practical Consideration

If you have an existing car loan, live in an area where the service is available, have a vehicle that meets the eligibility requirements, and have not recently evaluated whether better rates might be available to you, starting a rate check provides information that can inform your decision.

According to Upstart, the initial rate check uses a soft inquiry that will not affect your credit score. A few minutes provides information about what terms might be available through their platform.

You may discover that refinancing could potentially reduce your costs, in which case you can decide whether to proceed. You may learn that available terms are similar to your current loan, giving you information that your current situation may already be competitive. Either outcome provides useful information as you make financial decisions in 2026.

View the current Upstart Auto Refinancing offer (official Upstart page)

Disclaimers

Advertorial Disclosure: This is sponsored content. This article was created to provide information about Upstart Auto Refinancing and contains affiliate links. The publisher may receive compensation if readers apply through the links in this article. This is not independent financial research.

Editorial Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, legal advice, or any form of individualized professional guidance. The information provided reflects publicly available details from Upstart's website, the company's published disclosures, terms of use, Help Center, and general industry knowledge as of January 2026. Auto loan refinancing decisions should be based on your individual financial circumstances, goals, and needs. Always verify current terms, rates, and eligibility requirements directly with Upstart and compare offers from multiple sources before making any refinancing decisions.

Publisher Independence Disclosure: We are not Upstart. This publisher is not affiliated with Upstart Network, Inc. except through affiliate tracking where applicable.

Professional Consultation Disclaimer: Auto loan refinancing involves financial decisions that can impact your budget, credit, and overall financial situation. If you are uncertain about whether refinancing is appropriate for your situation, consider consulting with a qualified financial advisor, credit counselor, or other financial professional who can evaluate your complete financial picture and provide personalized guidance based on your specific circumstances.

Results May Vary: Individual refinancing outcomes vary significantly based on numerous factors including but not limited to current loan terms, credit history and score, income and employment status, vehicle age and value, loan-to-value ratio, remaining loan balance and term, geographic location, and the specific terms offered by lending partners. According to Upstart, approved borrowers who accepted their final terms in September 2025 saw average monthly payment savings of $127. This figure is an estimate based on consumers approved through the Upstart platform who accepted final terms. Individual results vary and depend on your current APR, remaining term, vehicle details, and the APR and term offered through Upstart-powered lenders. Not all applicants will be approved for refinancing, and not all approved applicants will receive terms that result in savings compared to their existing loan.

Platform and Lender Distinction: According to the company's terms of use and published disclosures, all loans facilitated through Upstart are made by Upstart's bank partners. Upstart operates as the technology platform that facilitates connections between borrowers and these lending partners. Loan approval decisions and terms are made by the lending partners, not by Upstart directly.

Geographic Availability: Upstart's Help Center notes auto refinancing is currently not available in Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Nevada, Puerto Rico, and West Virginia. Availability can change based on state regulations and lender participation. Confirm availability for your specific location by starting a rate check through the platform.

Vehicle Eligibility: According to Upstart, vehicles must be less than 13 years old and have less than 140,000 miles to be eligible for refinancing through the platform.

Credit Inquiry Disclosure: According to Upstart, checking your rate through their initial form uses a soft credit inquiry. The company states that soft credit inquiries do not lower your credit score, though you may see the inquiry on your report. According to Upstart, if you proceed with a full application after receiving a rate offer, a hard credit inquiry will be performed, which the company states may impact your credit score. According to Upstart, if you take out a loan, repayment information may be reported to credit bureaus.

Publisher Responsibility Disclaimer: The publisher of this article has made every effort to ensure accuracy at the time of publication based on publicly available information from the company's website, published disclosures, Help Center, and terms of use. We do not accept responsibility for errors, omissions, or outcomes resulting from the use of the information provided. Readers are encouraged to verify all details directly with Upstart, review all terms and disclosures carefully before applying, and consult with qualified financial professionals before making refinancing decisions.

SOURCE: Upstart

Source: Upstart