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Citi is a global bank with credit cards, mortgages, and personal loans, and exactly zero auto lending. There is no Citi auto refinance because there is no Citi auto loan of any kind. The confusion is understandable: Citi once ran an auto finance business under the CitiFinancial Auto name, and legacy pages and old forum threads keep the memory alive. That business was wound down years ago, and nothing has replaced it.
The tempting workaround, using a Citi personal loan to pay off a car loan, usually makes the math worse. Personal loans are unsecured, so they price higher than loans backed by a vehicle, and using one to replace a secured car loan typically trades a lower rate for a higher one. A true auto refinance keeps the vehicle as collateral, which is exactly what keeps the rate down. If your goal is a cheaper car payment, the path runs through lenders that actually write auto refis, not through Citi's product menu.
What it does well
- Strong bank for cards, checking, and other core products
- No misleading half-product: Citi simply does not do auto lending
- Citi customers can refinance elsewhere with no effect on their Citi accounts
Where it gives ground
- No auto loans and no auto refinancing at all
- Legacy CitiFinancial Auto pages still create false expectations
- A Citi personal loan is an expensive substitute for a real auto refi
No, and the reason is broader than most no answers: Citi does not offer auto loans in any form. Not purchase loans, not refinancing, not lease buyouts. Auto lending is simply not on Citi's consumer product shelf, which puts it in a different category from banks like Wells Fargo that lend on cars but decline to refinance.
The name still circulates because of CitiFinancial Auto, a subsidiary that once originated and serviced car loans. Citi exited that business, and today the searches it left behind mostly land on archived pages and outdated advice. If a site tells you how to apply for a Citi auto refinance in 2026, it is wrong.
Citi does not do car loans. Your refinance still can happen today.
Show me actual lendersBecause Citi offers personal loans, some borrowers consider using one to pay off their car loan. Mechanically it works, but financially it fights physics. A car loan is secured by the vehicle, and that collateral is why auto rates run well below unsecured rates for the same borrower. Swap a secured loan for an unsecured one and you typically pay more, not less.
There are narrow cases where an unsecured payoff makes sense, such as a vehicle too old for any secured lender to touch. But if your car qualifies for a normal refinance, and most do, a real auto refi will nearly always beat a personal loan on rate. Compare both numbers before you even consider the workaround.
Refinance the car where refinancing actually happens: credit unions, refinance specialists, and the national lenders still active in the market. Your Citi checking, cards, and history are completely unaffected by refinancing a car loan elsewhere. There is no loyalty penalty because there was never a Citi car loan to be loyal to.
The process is the standard one. A new lender prices your payoff, wins your business or does not, and if it wins, it pays off your current lender and takes the lien. Two minutes of questions is enough to see multiple offers side by side.
Citi makes sense if
- Citi customers confirming the bank has no car loan product
- People untangling old CitiFinancial Auto references
- Banking customers happy to refinance their car somewhere else
Look elsewhere if
- Anyone who needs an actual auto refinance lender
- Borrowers hoping to consolidate a car loan into Citi banking
- Bad-credit borrowers who need a specialist, which Citi never was
Frequently asked questions
Does Citi refinance car loans?
No. Citi does not offer auto loans of any kind, including refinancing. Its former auto lending arm, CitiFinancial Auto, was wound down years ago and nothing replaced it.
Did Citibank ever offer auto loans?
Yes. CitiFinancial Auto originated and serviced car loans until Citi exited the business. That legacy is why old articles and forum posts still mention Citi auto financing, but the product no longer exists.
Can I use a Citi personal loan to refinance my car?
You can, but it rarely helps. Personal loans are unsecured and price higher than vehicle-secured loans for the same borrower. A true auto refinance keeps the car as collateral, which is what earns the lower rate. Compare a real refi offer first.
Where should Citi customers refinance a car loan?
With lenders that actively compete for refinances: credit unions, refinance specialists, and national lenders still in the market. Refinancing elsewhere has no effect on your Citi accounts or relationship.
Does comparing auto refinance offers affect my credit?
No. Seeing offers uses a soft credit pull, which does not change your score. Only proceeding to a full application with a chosen lender triggers a hard inquiry.
