Can you remove someone as a cosigner on a loan?

Asked by: Clark Langosh  |  Last update: January 24, 2026
Score: 4.1/5 (45 votes)

To get a co-signer release you will first need to contact your lender. After contacting them, you can request the release — if the lender offers it. This is just paperwork that removes the co-signer from the loan and places you, the primary borrower, as the sole borrower on the loan.

Can a cosigner be removed from a loan?

Yes you can, it's called a ``co-signer release'', but depending on the bank or financial establishment you got your loan from this option may be available to you depending on your current credit and financial situation.

How can I legally remove myself as a cosigner?

Your best option to get your name off a large cosigned loan is to have the person who's using the money refinance the loan without your name on the new loan. Another option is to help the borrower improve their credit history. You can ask the person using the money to make extra payments to pay off the loan faster.

Can you take a cosigner off a loan without refinancing?

In most instances, the only way to remove a cosigner from liability is with the creditor's approval or a refinance.

Does being removed as a cosigner affect your credit?

However, there is a downside to consider. Being removed as a cosigner from a loan could potentially hurt your credit scores.

How To Get Removed As A Co-Signer On An Auto Or Mortgage Loan

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Can I kick out a co-signer?

When your credit score improves, you have the option to remove the co-signer from your loan. You can remove the co-signer by refinancing your auto loan, receiving a co-signer release or paying off the loan.

How long does it take to remove a cosigner?

You can often remove a cosigner at any point during the loan period. Your loan paperwork might dictate specific terms, though. For example, some lenders require 24 months of on-time payments from the primary borrower before they'll consider releasing the cosigner.

What happens if you cosign a loan and the other person doesn't pay?

The lender may take legal action against you, pursue you through debt collection agencies, or sell the debt to a “debt buyer” to try to collect the money that is owed on the loan if the borrower does not pay or defaults on his or her repayment obligations.

Whose credit score is used when buying a car with a co-signer?

Lenders may look at the credit score of both you and your co-signer. So, a co-signer with good credit — a score above 660 — may result in lower rates. The average auto loan rate for subprime borrowers on a new car is 12.28 percent.

How does a cosigner release work?

By releasing your co-signer, they will no longer be responsible for your student loan debt; instead, you will be the only person responsible for repayment of the loan.

Can I sue someone I cosigned for?

Yes, you can sue the person you co-signed for if they don't make the payments they promised to make. You may be able to get a judgment against them in court, but it could be hard to collect that money since they didn't pay the debt in the first place.

Who gets the credit on a cosigned loan?

So, if the primary borrower is unable to pay as agreed, the co-signer may have to pay the full amount of what's owed. Second, a co-signed loan will appear on the co-signer's credit reports. The co-signer's credit scores may be positively or negatively impacted by the borrower's credit behavior.

How do I protect myself as a cosigner?

5 ways to protect yourself as a co-signer
  1. Serve as a co-signer only for close friends or relatives. One of loan co-signing's biggest risks is potential damage to your credit score. ...
  2. Keep copies of all the loan documents. ...
  3. Create a contract. ...
  4. Track monthly payments. ...
  5. Ensure you can afford payments.

How do I get my name off a cosigned loan?

Co-signers can make a written request to the lender to be released from a loan. In certain cases, like some student loans, there may be a provision that allows a co-signer to take their name off a loan.

Can I legally remove myself as a cosigner?

Some lenders have a release option for co-signers, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. A release can be obtained after a certain number of on-time payments and a credit check of the original borrower to determine whether they are now creditworthy.

What is a loan release?

Once all the money has been fully paid back to the lender a Loan Release Form is created and issued to the borrower relieving them from any liability from the note.

Does co-signing hurt your credit?

Co-signing a credit card for a friend or family member is a big leap to take and one that could hurt your credit score if the person you sign with doesn't pay the card payments on time.

Who owns the car if there is a co-signer?

Although liable for payments if you default, the cosigner doesn't share vehicle ownership and won't be on the car title. They also generally don't make the regular monthly payments. Co-borrower: A co-borrower shares financial responsibility and ownership of the car from day one.

Does a cosigner's income count?

Although requirements can vary by lender, a cosigner typically needs to have good to excellent credit (670 and up) to cosign a loan or credit line. Lenders look at a cosigner's credit score and report as well as their income and assets to determine whether they qualify for a loan.

How do you remove yourself as a co-signer on a car?

A co-signer or co-borrower can request a release from a car loan, refinance the loan, pay off the loan or sell the vehicle to remove themselves from the loan agreement. It is important to communicate with the other borrower and come to an agreement on how to handle the loan before taking any action.

How long does a cosigner stay on a car loan?

A co-signer doesn't need to stay on the loan for the life of it, either. After making the required principal and interest payments, you can apply to release them and manage repayment on your own.

Do co-signers have any rights?

No. Cosigning a loan doesn't give you any title, ownership, or other rights to the property the loan is paying for. Your only role is to repay the loan if the main borrower falls behind on the payments or defaults.

Can you kick out a cosigner?

Removing a co-borrower or cosigner from a mortgage is possible but difficult, and your lender may insist that you pay off the mortgage in full or refinance the house by taking out a new loan solely in your name.

How do I get out of being a cosigner on a loan?

In general, to qualify for co-signer release, borrowers must prove they have the ability to pay off the loan on their own, in addition to having no late payments for a set period of time, says Kaplan. The lender will also review the borrower's full credit history and assess current income relative to the loan payments.

Can you change co-signers on a car?

Only the primary borrower is allowed to make this change on the loan. Lender approval: There's no guarantee a lender will approve the co-signer release. You will need to prove that you can handle the loan on your own, including having an acceptable credit score and financial resources to maintain repayment.