How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

2026 Autopay Auto Loan Marketplace Review

We are committed to providing accurate content that helps you make informed money decisions. Our partners have not commissioned or endorsed this content. Read our editorial guidelines here.

Best for cash-out refinancing. Southeast Financial Credit Union (SFCU) is an auto loan marketplace that helps you shop with multiple lenders with just one form. Some of Southeast Financial Credit Union (SFCU) ’s partners offer cash-out auto refinancing. This lets you refinance and borrow up to $12,000 beyond your current loan balance, providing extra cash if you need it.

Southeast Financial Credit Union (SFCU) auto loan rates and terms

Starting annual percentage rate (APR)Loan termsLoan amountsFees Minimum credit score
New auto loans5.00%12 to 84 monthsNot specified to $100,000Up to doc fee600
Used auto loans6.49%Not specified to 240 months$10,000 to $4,000,000Up to doc fee575
Refinance auto loans5.75%12 to 84 monthsNot specified to $100,000Up to doc fee600

Southeast Financial Credit Union (SFCU) pros and cons

Pros

  • Many types of auto loans available (purchase, refinancing, cash-out refinancing, lease buyout)
  • Can borrow as little as Not specified
  • 84-month loan term can help make monthly payments more affordable (but you will pay more total interest)
  • Easy application process

Cons

  • Customer service not available on Sundays

What you need to get a car loan with Southeast Financial Credit Union (SFCU)

Because Southeast Financial Credit Union (SFCU) works with a network of lenders, the requirements to prequalify for an auto loan will vary. But as a baseline, here’s what you’ll need to start shopping: 

  • Credit score: 600
  • Minimum income: $2,500 a month
  • Vehicle requirements: Must be 10 years or newer with less than 150,000 miles
  • Document requirements: Driver’s license, proof of insurance, proof of income (paystubs, tax returns), proof of residency (utility bill, lease agreement), payoff letter if refinancing

How Southeast Financial Credit Union (SFCU) ’s starting rates compare to LendingTree’s lowest offers

Southeast Financial Credit Union (SFCU) ’s rates start at 5.00%, but only the most qualified borrowers will be eligible for that price. Usually, that means a 740+ credit score, high annual income and a long, positive payment history on current debt and past debt, among other factors. 

In the table below, you’ll find the average lowest APRs for various auto loan offers users saw on the LendingTree marketplace in Q3 2025. Your offer may be lower or higher, depending on your unique credit profile. 

Credit rangeAverage lowest APR for new auto loan offersAverage lowest APR for used auto loan offersAverage lowest APR for auto refi loan offers
Excellent (800+)7.16%9.34%5.06%
Very good (740 – 799)8.07%8.47%5.29%
Good (670 – 739)11.34%13.30%6.13%
Fair (580 – 669)20.51%22.36%9.02%
Poor (under 580)22.85%24.35%13.70%
Source: Figures represent the average lowest offered APRs received on the LendingTree platform in Q3 2025. Borrowers may receive multiple offers from up to five lenders. Refinance offers apply only to used vehicles.

Estimate your monthly payment

About 5% of people with an auto loan are behind on payments, according to a LendingTree study. Using an auto loan calculator before signing on the dotted line can help you avoid taking on more than you can handle.

Types of Southeast Financial Credit Union (SFCU) auto loans

Southeast Financial Credit Union (SFCU) can help you find auto financing offers to pay off cars you already own or to buy cars you want.

  • New and used car loans: It takes just a few minutes to apply with Southeast Financial Credit Union (SFCU) . As an added bonus, your first payment won’t be due for 45 days.
  • Lease buyouts: Whether you’ve fallen in love with the car or have blown past the mileage limit, a car lease buyout loan can help you keep your vehicle at the end of a lease.
  • Auto refinance: Refinancing an auto loan can let you lower your interest rate or change the length of the loan. Southeast Financial Credit Union (SFCU) says it has saved customers an average of $100 a month on their payments. 
  • Cash-out refinancing: Cash-out auto refinancing lets you borrow up to $12,000 more than you need to repay your original car loan, as long as you’re eligible. You can use this cash as you wish, but keep in mind that the more you borrow, the more total interest you’ll pay. 

Southeast Financial Credit Union (SFCU) also offers vehicle protection products. 

  • GAP (Guaranteed Asset Protection insurance) coverage pays the difference between your car’s market value and what you still owe on your loan. Standard insurance only covers the car’s market value, so if you owe more than the vehicle is worth and it’s totaled, you’d be responsible for the remaining balance unless you have GAP coverage.
  • Vehicle service contracts cover maintenance and repairs and may include roadside assistance.

When banks compete, you win

Shoppers can save an average of $2,346 on their auto loan, simply by using LendingTree to compare offers and choosing the one with the lowest rate. Here’s how:

Tell us what you need

Take two minutes to tell us who you are and how much money you need for your vehicle — we’ll take care of the rest. It’s free, simple and secure.

Shop your offers

We’ll send you offers from up to five trusted lenders. Compare your offers side by side to see which one will save you the most money.

Get your money

It’s smooth sailing once you finalize your loan with your lender — you could see money in your account in as soon as 24 hours.

Is an Southeast Financial Credit Union (SFCU) auto loan right for you?

If you’re looking for a car loan or refinancing your current auto loan, Southeast Financial Credit Union (SFCU) and similar marketplaces are great for getting a lot of information quickly to help make your decision. 

On the other hand, using Southeast Financial Credit Union (SFCU) doesn’t guarantee you’ll get the best deals. Even if you get multiple attractive offers, it’s wise to shop around for the best auto loan as widely as you can, including with any banks or credit unions where you already have an account. 

Don’t forget to budget for car insurance

Shop around for car insurance on the LendingTree marketplace to find affordable rates. Among consumers who switched providers, 92% said they saved money and nearly two-thirds saved at least $100 on their annual car insurance rate, according to a LendingTree survey.

How Southeast Financial Credit Union (SFCU) auto loans compare

If you like the ease of using an online marketplace to find a car loan, LightStream is another option. Like Southeast Financial Credit Union (SFCU) , it can send you multiple offers from partner lenders. Some of these offers won’t impact your credit but others require a hard credit pull, which can bring down your score by a handful of points. 

You can also work directly with a traditional lender that offers loans online. Lightstream is an option for those with good or excellent credit, but since it doesn’t offer prequalification, you’ll be making a full loan application with a hard credit pull that can slightly lower your credit score. 

Here’s how Southeast Financial Credit Union (SFCU) ’s financing on new cars compares.

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?
Southeast Financial Credit Union (SFCU) Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU) LightStream
Starting APR5.00%10.85% (with autopay)Not specified
Loan terms12 – 84 months36 – 60 months Not specified – Not specified months
Loan amountsNot specified to $100,000Not specified to Not specifiedStarting at Not specified
Fees Up to doc fee
Minimum credit score600

To learn more about how these options compare to Southeast Financial Credit Union (SFCU) , read our review of LightStream and Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU) auto loans.

Frequently asked questions

Southeast Financial Credit Union (SFCU) ’s minimum credit score for an auto loan is 600. Usually, the credit score needed to buy a car is at least 600, but some companies are willing to work with lower scores. 

If you’re struggling to qualify, your best bet may be to shop for a bad credit car loan with lenders that specialize in lower scores.

Southeast Financial Credit Union (SFCU) doesn’t do a hard credit inquiry or pull during the prequalification stage. That means you can see several rate quotes without impacting your credit. When you officially apply, the lender will perform a hard credit pull that will likely cause your credit score to drop temporarily by about five points.

Southeast Financial Credit Union (SFCU) is an online marketplace for car loans that matches applicants with partner lenders and credit unions. Each partner has its own set of criteria for loan approval, so Southeast Financial Credit Union (SFCU) can work with borrowers of all credit levels.

Compare Auto Loans in Minutes

Get auto loan offers from up to 5 lenders in minutes