How can a co-signer get out of the loan?

Asked by: Quentin Mertz  |  Last update: November 24, 2025
Score: 4.3/5 (70 votes)

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.

How can I legally get out of a cosigned loan?

lenders do not remove co signers from loans. The debt has to be retired. This can be done by paying it off directly or refinancing the loan.

How do I get my name off a loan as a cosigner?

Get a loan release

The CFPB offers some sample letters a co-signer can send to request a release. Some lenders, however, only allow the original borrower to apply for a co-signer release. As a precaution, ask the lender to include a co-signer release option in the terms of the loan.

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.

Can a cosigner take themselves off?

You can remove yourself as a co-signer, but it's not always easy. When you ask for a co-signer release, it's common to get turned down. When you co-sign a loan, you're taking on full responsibility for that financial obligation, along with the primary borrower.

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

17 related questions found

How do I 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.

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 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.

What power does a cosigner have?

They are equally responsible for the debt and must pay if the borrower does not make payments or defaults on the loan. Who can be a co-signer comes down to credit history and standing. A co-signer must have their income, assets, credit score and debt-to-income ratio in good shape to receive approval.

Can I sue someone for not paying a loan I cosigned?

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.

How to get a co-signer release?

Apply to release your cosigner
  1. Provide proof of graduation or completion of a certificate program.
  2. Be old enough to enter a legally binding contract where you live.
  3. Be a U.S. Citizen or a Permanent Resident at the time you submit the request.
  4. Provide proof of income.

Will removing myself as a cosigner hurt my credit?

Being removed as a cosigner from a loan could potentially hurt your credit scores. How much your scores are impacted depends on the details of your credit profile.

How do I remove a cosigner without refinancing?

5 ways to remove someone from a mortgage without refinancing
  1. Mortgage loan assumption: Transfer the loan to your name. ...
  2. Mortgage loan modification: Change the terms of you loan. ...
  3. Selling the house: Fresh start for both parties. ...
  4. Paying off the mortgage: Eliminating the debt.

How can 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.

What happens if you don't pay back a cosigned loan?

If the borrower does not repay the loan, you may be forced to repay the whole amount of the loan, plus interest and any late fees that have accrued. With most cosigned loans, the lender is not required to pursue the main borrower first, but can request payment from the cosigner any time there is a missed payment.

Can a co-signer take your car?

Remember, the primary borrower legally owns the vehicle, so an auto loan co-signer cannot take over without the consent of all parties and a refinance loan.

Does a cosigner have equal ownership?

A cosigner is a second individual on your loan application who can help boost your chances of approval. A cosigner doesn't have ownership in the funds or the asset you're signing a loan for.

Does cosigning hurt your credit?

If you already have a high amount of debt, adding a co-signed loan could impact your own ability to qualify for additional credit. It can affect your credit scores. Because a co-signed loan is recorded on your credit reports, any late or missed payments can have a negative impact on your credit scores.

How soon can you take a cosigner off an auto loan?

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.

Can you remove someone from a loan without refinancing?

Secure Approval From the Lender

Your lender can remove a name from a mortgage without refinancing. The hard part with this is, it's completely up to the lender to decide whether to allow this.

What happens to cosigner if I don't pay rent?

You would be sued if the rent is not paid. You are jointly and severally liable for the lease when you are a co-signer. This means that if the rent is not paid, the Landlord can pursue all persons on the lease or just one person.

Can a cosigner get in trouble?

You are just as liable on the debt as the original borrower.

Sometimes, by a lot. You are saying that the lender can try to get you to pay without first trying to get the borrower to pay. You are saying the lender can sue you if the borrower does not pay. You are tying up your credit.

Can you sue someone if you cosigned a loan?

As a co-signer, if the borrower defaults, you can: Pay off the debt: This will prevent further damage to your credit and stop collection efforts against you. Sue the borrower: You can take legal action against the borrower in small claims court to recover the money you paid, including any court costs and attorney fees.

What are the rules for cosigners?

Income Requirements

In addition to having a good-to-excellent credit score, your potential cosigner will need to show that they have enough income to pay back the loan if you default on it. If they don't have sufficient income, they won't offset the lender's risk and may not be able to cosign.

Does being a cosigner show up on your credit report?

Agreeing to cosign a loan for someone is a generous thing to do, and risky. Such a noble deed will show up on your credit report, but the impact won't always be positive. On the one hand, your credit score might improve if the primary borrower executes timely payments.