Which is best to pay the principal on a loan or refinance? Seeking best answer for overall loan payment?

The auto loan is for 60 mo @ 14.9%. The total cost of the current loan is $41,000. I have paid on the loan for 15 months now and have been receiving refinance rates @ 7.9% for 60 months. This would add another year to the life of the loan.
I have no problems paying the current loan amount and plan in Aug to begin paying an additional $250 a month on the principal. There is no penalty on my current loan for paying off early and there is no balloon payment at the end.
I want to do what is best for my credit rating, I am in the process of repairing after a wicked divorce. Currently at a 684, goal is to get it above 750 to help with future goals for business and personal financial decisions.

Do both! Re-fi AND pay additional principal each month. The re-fi will extend the POTENTIAL life of the loan but since you’re planning on paying extra you’ll actually pay it off sooner than just paying extra on the higher rate loan since less of the payments will go towards interest!

This will give you the side benefit of a lower required payment for any given month if funds should get tight.

If you have made it though a nasty divorce with a 684 FICO score, you’re actually slightly above average and right on the border for prime paper. It sounds like you’ve got your ducks lined up in a nice straight line, so march ‘em on down the road!

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