Patent ID: 8396791

Claim:
A method comprising: by a computer system comprising computer hardware: retrieving at least a portion of customer information, first financial terms that a customer has for a first vehicle, and first vehicle information; retrieving at least a portion of second vehicle information for a second vehicle and second financial terms available to the customer for the second vehicle; receiving a configuration request for replacing the first vehicle of the customer with a different vehicle; in response to the configuration request, retrieving current information associated with at least one of the customer information, the first financial terms that the customer has for the first vehicle, the first vehicle information, the second vehicle information, or the second financial terms available to the customer for the second vehicle; determining, by the computer system, whether the current retrieved information may affect whether it is favorable for the customer to replace a first vehicle and first financial terms with a second vehicle and second financial terms by at least: calculating one or more new payments based on an estimated equity value of the first vehicle derived from the first financial terms, and, based on the second financial terms; and determining if the one or more new payments satisfy at least a condition based at least in part on the first financial terms and the second financial terms, wherein the determination comprises calculating a difference between the one or more new payments and an existing periodic payment for the first vehicle, and determining whether the difference is less than or equal to a preset acceptable threshold value; generating a message if it is determined that the retrieved information may affect whether it is favorable for the customer to replace the first vehicle and first financial terms with the second vehicle and second financial terms; and transmitting the message to a dealer.