How do I remove a cosigner from a personal loan?

Asked by: Mafalda Effertz  |  Last update: February 20, 2024
Score: 4.5/5 (28 votes)

There are many lenders that do allow a cosigner to be removed, but if your lender doesn't, the only way to get the cosigner off the loan is to refinance it with just the primary borrower.

Is it possible to remove a cosigner from a personal loan?

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.

How do I legally remove a cosigner?

Here are the four main ways to remove a cosigner:
  1. Release the Cosigner. Some banks and lending companies offer cosigner releases. ...
  2. Pay Off the Loan. If you have the money to pay off your loan in full, you might consider this option to remove your cosigner. ...
  3. Refinance Your Car. ...
  4. Sell the Car.

Can a cosigner take themselves off a loan?

Fortunately, you can have your name removed, but you will have to take the appropriate steps depending on the cosigned loan type. Basically, you have two options: You can enable the main borrower to assume total control of the debt or you can get rid of the debt entirely.

How do I remove a cosigner without refinancing?

The main ways to remove a name from a mortgage without having to refinance include:
  1. A loan assumption.
  2. A loan modification.
  3. A cosigner release.
  4. A quitclaim deed.
  5. Sell your home.
  6. Pay off your home.

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

27 related questions found

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.

Can you remove cosigner on title?

You may be wondering if you can go about removing a cosigner from a car loan, and the answer is yes, you can. Often, you can simply contact your lender to get a cosigner released, but sometimes it can be more complicated.

Does a cosigner have any legal rights?

Being a cosigner does not give you rights to the property. A cosigner has no title or ownership in the property secured for the loan. Additionally, a cosigner has no legal right to occupy a home as a primary or secondary residence, unlike the primary signer/borrower.

How can co signers protect themselves?

How to protect yourself when co-signing a car loan
  1. Serve as a co-signer only for close friends or relatives.
  2. Keep copies of all the loan documents.
  3. Create a contract.
  4. Track monthly payments.
  5. Ensure you can afford payments.

Who gets the credit on a cosigned loan?

Having a co-signer on the loan will help the primary borrower build their credit score (as long as they continue to make on-time payments). It could also help the co-signer build their credit score and credit history, if the primary borrower makes on-time payments throughout the course of the loan.

How hard is it to remove a cosigner?

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.

How do I request a cosigner release?

Lenders are reticent in providing information about whether cosigner release is an option, so you will likely have to inquire directly with your lender. Take advantage of the sample letters for requesting a cosigner release that CFPB has posted on their website.

Can a cosigner be released?

If a borrower can prove to the lender they're financially stable on their own, they might qualify for cosigner release. If you're considering cosigner release, keep in mind that there are benefits for you as the borrower, too. This includes: Showing you can financially handle the loan on your own.

What happens to cosigner if I don'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.

Can you sue someone you 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 on that money, since they didn't pay the debt in the first place.

Does being a cosigner show up on your credit report?

Once you cosign a loan or credit card, it's likely to show up on your credit report. In fact, the only way the new credit wouldn't show up on your credit report is if the lender fails to report it. It's important to note that most lenders report loans and credit accounts to the credit bureaus.

What does a cosigner have rights to?

Co-signing means promising to pay back a borrower's loan if the borrower fails to pay. You have the responsibility of repaying the debt, but you don't have any right to use the loan proceeds. Read: Best Personal Loans.

Does a cosigner have power?

Being a co-signer doesn't give you rights to the property, car or other security that the loan is paying for. You are the financial guarantor, meaning you must make sure the loan gets paid if the primary borrower fails to do so.

What is a cosigner release?

Releasing your co-signer means they are no longer responsible for the repayment of your loans. Some private loans allow you to remove the co-signer from your student loan after you've made a certain number of on-time payments.

How much power does a cosigner have?

It's important to remember that the co-signer has no rights under the mortgage, only obligations. Even if the primary is no longer making payments, the co-signer's only “right” is to make the payments themselves or allow the foreclosure to proceed.

What ownership does a cosigner have?

What is a Co-Signer? A co-signer applies for the home loan right along with you. However, they are not on the title of the home. The co-signers name is only on the loan, meaning that while they are financially responsible for paying back the mortgage, they do not have ownership of the property.

Can a cosigner be held accountable?

A co-signer typically has no financial responsibility except paying the loan. If a co-signer is also a co-owner, under certain circumstance they could become potentially responsible for damages if a driver causes an accident or is subject to a lawsuit.

How can I get my husband off my car loan?

Options if you co-signed a car loan
  1. Get a co-signer release. While not all lenders offer this, a co-signer release is simply paperwork that removes the co-signer from the loan. ...
  2. Vehicle refinance. ...
  3. Pay off the loan. ...
  4. Pay off the loan. ...
  5. Sell the vehicle. ...
  6. Refinance the vehicle.

Does a cosigner own the car?

The cosigner is legally responsible for the debt if the primary borrower can't make payments. Any late or missed payments can negatively impact both parties' credit scores. Furthermore, the cosigner doesn't have any ownership of the vehicle.

Can a cosigner take possession of the car?

Unfortunately, since you have no legal rights to the vehicle, the primary borrower has to take the initiative to remove someone's name from the contract. Cosigners can't take possession of the vehicle they cosign for or remove the primary borrower from the loan since their name isn't on the vehicle's title.