How to protect yourself when co-signing a loan?

Asked by: Pearlie Osinski II  |  Last update: August 22, 2025
Score: 4.7/5 (73 votes)

If I Cosign a Loan, What Can I Do To Protect Myself? Before you agree to cosign a loan, ask the main borrower to make a budget and show you how they'll repay the loan. Make sure the monthly loan payments are affordable for both of you.

How to protect yourself when you cosign a loan?

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.

What is the risk of cosigning a loan?

Your credit rating could be damaged. If the lender sues and wins, your wages and property may be subject to garnishment or other collection actions. Even if the loan you cosigned is not in default, your liability for the obligation may prevent you from securing other credit.

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.

What happens if you cosign a loan and the other person defaults?

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.

I Co-Signed My Son's Student Loan And He's Not Paying

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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.

What legal action can a cosigner take?

But most states allow cosigners to take primary borrowers to court in the following situations: Cross claims: If you default on or fail to repay the loan, the lender could sue the cosigner for the money owed. The cosigner may then be able to sue you for the money that the lender is trying to recover.

How do I remove myself as a cosigner?

  1. Transfer the balance to a 0% card. The original borrower can move any remaining credit card or loan debt to a balance transfer credit card. ...
  2. Get a loan release. ...
  3. Consolidate or refinance the debt. ...
  4. Remove your name from a credit card account. ...
  5. Sell the financed asset. ...
  6. Pay off the balance.

Can a co-signer take your car away?

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.

Can a cosigner kick someone out?

Are you a co-signer or a tenant? If you're a co-signer none of that matters as far as the lease goes. We're well off the original question at his point, but he cannot make you leave. Of course, if you're living there without the landlord's permission you can get evicted.

Why is it never a good idea to cosign a loan?

Acting as a co-signer can have serious financial consequences. First, co-signers assume legal responsibility for a debt. 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.

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.

What are your responsibilities if you cosign a loan?

When you cosign a loan, you agree to be responsible for someone else's debt. If the main borrower misses payments, you must make the payments. If the main borrower misses payments or stops making payments (also called defaulting), you must repay the loan.

Will Cosigning ruin my 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.

Can you reverse a cosign?

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 a cosigner take your house?

If the other party stops making payments, as co-owner, you can take possession of the property. This is not the case as a co-signer.

How bad does a repo hurt a cosigner?

“Repossession is bad for both the borrower and the cosigner because both credit scores will take a hit. Late payments, loan defaults, loans sent to collections and court judgments can all be noted on the primary borrower reports and the cosigner's reports,” says Howard Dvorkin, CPA and Chairman at Debt.com.

Can you take your 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. Most loans, however, do not include such a provision.

How much rights does a cosigner have on a car?

Co-signing means you are responsible for covering payments if the main borrower cannot, but you do not have any legal rights to the car. Co-owning means both parties have equal ownership and financial responsibility for the car.

How do I get out of a co-signed car loan?

Options for removing a co-signer from a car loan
  1. Refinance. One way to remove a co-signer from your loan is to refinance. ...
  2. Get a co-signer release. To get a co-signer release you will first need to contact your lender. ...
  3. Pay off the loan. The most painless way to remove a co-signer is to pay off the car loan.

Can I take my name off a car loan?

To get your name off of someone's car loan you have the option to request a co-signer release. Selling or trading in the vehicle is another way to remove a co-signer from a car loan. If these aren't options, you can ask them to refinance the loan without you.

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.

How to protect yourself when cosigning a loan?

Be sure you can afford to pay the loan – you should keep in mind that you are obligating yourself to the loan, which may prevent you from obtaining other credit you may want. Do not pledge property to secure the loan unless you fully understand the consequences. If the borrower defaults, you could lose your property.

How much power does a cosigner have?

A co-signer takes on all the rights and responsibilities of a loan along with the borrower. This means that if the borrower can't make a payment on the loan, the co-signer is responsible.

Can a cosigner go to jail?

However, in certain legal circumstances, the cosigner may face jail time. For example, in a case where the co-signer helped to facilitate the defendant's flight, provided false contact information, or in any way assisted the defendant in evading prosecution.