Refinancing Student Loans Before Buying a Car: Things to Consider

Q: Will student loans affect buying a car?

Student loan debt may affect some borrowers who want to buy a car. Borrowers who’ve fallen into delinquency or default may have difficulty qualifying for an auto loan. Borrowers who have difficulty repaying their student debt may also lack the resources to buy a car outright with cash.

Q: Do student loans affect getting a car loan?

Student loan debt may affect getting a car loan in some cases. Student loan borrowers with high debt-to-income ratios, for example, may have difficulty getting approved for auto loan financing. Lenders generally prefer a DTI below 36%. Borrowers who’ve fallen into student loan delinquency or default may also have difficulty getting a car loan.

Q: Should I buy a new car or pay off student loans?

Your personal circumstances may dictate whether it’s right for you to buy a new car or pay off student loans. Paying off student loans early can minimize your interest costs. There’s no prepayment penalty for paying student loans off early, but paying student loans off early can deplete your savings. A new car can experience substantial depreciation in the first year of ownership. Student loans have to be repaid over time unless you qualify for student loan forgiveness. Buying a new car is a personal choice. You may also consider buying a used car or leasing a new car. When determining what decision is right for you, you may consider doing both — buying a new car and paying off student loans.

Your Guide to Buying a Car With Student Loan Debt

Sulaiman Abdur-RahmanUpdated March 1, 2023

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Editor’s note: Lantern by SoFi seeks to provide content that is objective, independent and accurate. Writers are separate from our business operation and do not receive direct compensation from advertisers or partners. Read more about our Editorial Guidelines and How We Make Money.

Refinancing student loans to buy a car is something you may consider. Cars are tangible assets that promote transportation. Can you use student loans to buy a car? No, education loans can only be used for authorized educational expenses, such as tuition, books, supplies, transportation expenses, meals, and housing. Buying a car generally doesn’t count as a qualified educational expense.So you can’t use a student loan to buy a car, but you can refinance student loans for a lower monthly payment that may allow you to afford new expenses each month. Getting a lower monthly payment on your student loans can improve your debt-to-income ratio (DTI). Lowering your monthly payment can help you save for a down payment on a car, while improving your DTI may help you qualify for auto loan financing. Below we highlight the pros and cons of refinancing student loans to buy a car.

Refinancing Student Loans to Afford a Car

You may ask, “Can I get a car loan with student loans?” The answer is yes, borrowers with outstanding student debt may still qualify for auto loan financing. Lenders may want to review your credit history and debt-to-income ratio to determine whether you can afford a car loan.You can’t use a student loan to buy a car, but refinancing student loans for a lower monthly payment may allow you to afford new expenses each month. You may use a refinancing student loans car financing strategy if you’re a student loan borrower looking to buy a car.

Lowering Monthly Payments

As mentioned above, refinancing student loans for a lower monthly payment may allow you to afford new expenses each month. Some of the potential benefits of refinancing your student loans for a lower monthly payment may include the following:

Your debt-to-income ratio may improve
Improving your DTI may help you qualify for auto loan financing
Your lower student loan payment may help you save for a down payment on a car or an outright cash purchase of a new or used vehicle

Advantages of Refinancing Student Loans to Purchase a Car

As mentioned earlier, you may use a refinancing student loans car financing strategy if you’re a student loan borrower looking to buy a car. Below we highlight some of the advantages of refinancing student loans to purchase a car:

Can Help You Become a Car Owner

You may wonder and ask, “Can I get a car loan with student loans?” The answer is yes, borrowers with outstanding student debt may still qualify for auto loans. Refinancing your student loans for a lower monthly payment can help you save for a down payment on a car.

May Qualify for Better Car Financing Terms

Can you use student loans to buy a car? No, but student loan refinancing may improve your DTI, which may help you qualify for auto loan financing that’s right for you.

Disadvantages of Refinancing Student Loans to Purchase a Car

Below we highlight some of the disadvantages of refinancing student loans to purchase a car:

May Impact Your Debt Relief Options

There are several pros and cons of refinancing federal student loans. Any portion of your federal student debt that you refinance loses its eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness and federal income-driven repayment (IDR) plans. IDR plans, such as the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan that replaces the Revised Pay As You Earn (REPAYE) Plan, can lead to student loan forgiveness at the end of the repayment period. A refinanced student loan is a private education loan that must be repaid under a nonfederal repayment plan. Refinancing your student loans to purchase a car may not be right for you if you like the benefits of federal IDR plans.Private and nonprofit student loan refinance companies generally have no obligation to forgive your student debt.

Interest Costs May Increase

Your total interest costs may increase if you refinance for a longer term. You can lower your monthly payment by refinancing for a longer term, but you may end up paying more interest charges over the life of your loan. This can leave you with a more expensive loan and a vehicle that may experience car depreciation.

Leasing vs Buying a Car With Student Loans

You may consider leasing vs. buying a car. Auto leases typically include lower monthly payments than auto loans. A lease gives you temporary access to a car but doesn’t give you any ownership or equity stake in the vehicle.If you’re looking to save money on a car, you can negotiate with a car dealer or private seller for a deal that’s right for you.

Refinance Student Loans with Lantern:

Student loan refinancing may be right for you if you can lock in a lower interest rate over the life of your loan. The federal student loan interest rate is fixed at 5.50% for undergraduate Direct Loans disbursed to students in the 2023-24 school year. Private student loans can have fixed or variable interest rates ranging from under 5% to more than 15%.If you’re struggling with paying off your student loans, you may have the following options:

Refinance student loans for a lower interest rate
Request a student loan deferment
See if you qualify for any student loan forgiveness programs
See if your workplace offers employer student loan repayment assistance

If you’re interested in student loan refinancing, Lantern by SoFi can help. Refinancing might be right for you if you can lock in a lower interest rate.Find and compare student loan refinance options with Lantern.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will student loans affect buying a car?

Do student loans affect getting a car loan?

Should I buy a new car or pay off student loans?

Photo credit: iStock/Vladimir Vladimirov

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About the Author

Sulaiman Abdur-Rahman

Sulaiman Abdur-Rahman writes about personal loans, auto loans, student loans, and other personal finance topics for Lantern. He’s the recipient of more than 10 journalism awards and served as a New Jersey Society of Professional Journalists board member. An alumnus of the Philadelphia-based Temple University, Abdur-Rahman is a strong advocate of the First Amendment and freedom of speech.

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