GM Financial usually processes payments within one to two business days

When you send a payment to GM Financial, the time it takes to show up in your account depends on how you send it. Online payments through their website or app typically post within one business day. Payments mailed by check can take five to seven business days to arrive and process, since the mail itself takes time and then GM Financial has to receive, open, and record it.

The key word here is business days — that means Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays. If you submit a payment on Friday evening, it will not start processing until Monday. This matters most if you are close to a due date and worried about late fees.

One important detail: the time it takes to process is different from the time it takes to receive your payment. If you mail a check on Monday, it might arrive at GM Financial on Wednesday (two days in transit), then take one business day to process. That is three days total before it shows in your account.

Key Takeaways

  • Online payments through GM Financial's website or app post within one business day of submission.
  • Mailed checks take five to seven business days total because of mail transit time plus processing time at GM Financial.
  • Business days exclude weekends and federal holidays, so a Friday payment will not start processing until Monday.
  • If your due date is approaching, use online payment rather than mail to avoid late fees.
  • Automatic payments set up in advance remove the timing question entirely and post on the date you choose.

Online payments post fastest

If you pay through GM Financial's website or mobile app, your payment usually shows as posted within one business day. This is the fastest method and the one most people use because you can do it from home at any hour.

When you submit an online payment, GM Financial receives it when ready. They then process it overnight, and it appears in your account the next business day. If you pay on a Tuesday morning, it will likely post by Wednesday. If you pay on Friday, expect it to post on Monday.

Online payments are also safer than mailed checks because there is no risk of the check getting lost in the mail or damaged. You get a confirmation number right away, and you can see the payment status in your account.

Mailed checks take longer because of mail time

If you send a check by mail, the total time is usually five to seven business days. This includes the time for your check to travel through the postal system, arrive at GM Financial's processing center, be opened and recorded, and then post to your account.

The postal service itself typically takes two to three business days for a check to arrive, depending on distance. Once it arrives, GM Financial needs one to two business days to process it. If you live far from their processing center, the mail time alone could push you toward the seven-day mark.

Mailing a check also means you lose the confirmation you get with online payment. You will not know for certain that it arrived until you see it posted in your account. If the check gets lost, you may not realize it for a week or more.

Automatic payments remove the guessing

The simplest way to avoid worrying about processing time is to set up an automatic payment through GM Financial. You choose the amount and the date, and GM Financial withdraws it from your bank account on schedule.

Automatic payments post on the date you select, so there is no waiting. If you set it for the 15th of each month, it will post on the 15th. This also means you will never miss a due date by accident, and you will never have to think about mailing a check or logging in to pay online.

You can set up automatic payments through GM Financial's website or by calling their customer service line. You will need your bank account number and routing number. Most people set it for a few days before the due date, just to be safe.

What happens if your payment is late

If your payment does not post by the due date, GM Financial will charge a late fee. The amount varies, but it is typically a percentage of your monthly payment or a flat fee — check your loan agreement or account for the exact amount.

Late fees are separate from interest charges. Even if you pay a few days late, you will owe both the late fee and the extra interest that accrued while the payment was overdue. This is why timing matters, especially if you are mailing a check close to the due date.

If you are worried you will be late, contact GM Financial before the due date. They may be able to work with you on a payment arrangement or waive a late fee if this is your first time. It is always better to call ahead than to let a payment go unpaid.

Processing time during holidays and weekends

GM Financial does not process payments on weekends or federal holidays. If your due date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday, your payment is due on the last business day before that date.

This matters most around major holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. If you mail a check right before a holiday weekend, it may not arrive at the processing center until after the holiday, which could delay posting by several days.

Online payments submitted on a weekend or holiday will start processing the next business day. So if you pay online on Saturday, it will post on Monday (assuming Monday is a business day). This is another reason online payment is safer when you are close to a due date.

How to check if your payment posted

You can see whether your payment has posted by logging into your GM Financial account online or through the app. Your account will show all recent payments, the date they posted, and your current balance.

If you paid online, you should see a confirmation number when ready after submission. Save this number in case you ever need to prove you paid on time. If you mailed a check, you can call GM Financial's customer service line to ask whether they have received it, though they may not have specific information until it has been fully processed.

Most people check their account a day or two after paying to make sure it posted. This is a good habit, especially if you are close to a due date or if you are mailing a check for the first time.

Frequently Asked Questions

If I pay online on the last day before my due date, will it post in time?

Yes, online payments post within one business day. If your due date is a Friday and you pay online Thursday, it will post Friday. If your due date is Monday and you pay online Friday evening, it will post Monday. The only exception is if your due date falls on a weekend or holiday — then it moves to the last business day before that date.

Can I cancel a payment after I submit it online?

Once you submit an online payment, you usually cannot cancel it. If you made a mistake, contact GM Financial's customer service right away — they may be able to stop it if it has not yet processed. For future reference, double-check the amount and account number before you submit.

What if my check gets lost in the mail?

If your check does not arrive within seven business days, contact GM Financial and ask them to check whether they received it. If they did not, you may need to stop payment on the original check through your bank and send a new one. This is why online payment is safer — you get proof of delivery when ready.

Do I have to pay by the due date, or can I pay a few days early?

You can pay early without any penalty. Paying early actually reduces the interest that accrues on your loan, since interest is calculated daily. Many people pay a few days before the due date to make sure there is no processing delay.

If I set up automatic payments, can I skip a month?

You can pause or cancel automatic payments through your GM Financial account, but you will still owe the payment. If you skip a month, you will fall behind on your loan and face late fees and interest charges. If you are having trouble making a payment, contact GM Financial to discuss your options before you skip a payment.