How to refinance a car loan to remove cosigner?

Asked by: Loyal Rodriguez DVM  |  Last update: March 23, 2024
Score: 4.6/5 (26 votes)

Refinance the Car Loan to Remove the Cosigner The principal borrower can refinance the auto loan in their own name to remove the cosigner. The borrower gets a new loan agreement possibly from a different lender. The old loan agreement closes and the debt is removed from the cosigner's name.

Can you refinance a car loan to get a cosigner off?

Refinancing the loan: If you want to remove a cosigner from your car loan, you may be able to refinance the loan in your name so it becomes your responsibility alone. For example, if you've recently gone through a divorce and your ex-spouse is a cosigner on your loan, you could refinance the loan in your name only.

How do I remove a cosigner from my car loan?

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 I remove a cosigner without refinancing?

Yes, it is possible to take sole responsibility for a home that you're currently sharing without refinancing, even if your ex-spouse or another co-borrower or cosigner is currently on the mortgage.

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

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.

How to Take a Co-Signer Off a Car Loan

36 related questions found

Can a cosigner remove himself from a car 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.

Can a cosigner take themselves off a car loan?

The quick answer is yes, but it's not as easy as you might think. "Lenders are generally averse to removing a co-signer," says Dean Kaplan, president of The Kaplan Group, a commercial debt collection agency. That's because by removing your name from the loan, the lender's risk goes up.

How can I legally remove myself as a cosigner?

  1. Transfer the balance to a 0% 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.
  7. Co-signing isn't forever.

What rights does a cosigner have on a car?

Similar to a home loan, you can be a cosigner for an auto loan. However, being a cosigner doesn't give you rights to the car that loan will purchase. A cosigner doesn't have any legal rights to the vehicle, so they can't take the car from its rightful owner, the primary borrower.

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.

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.

What happens when you refinance a car?

Refinancing your car means replacing your current auto loan with a new one. The new loan pays off your original loan, and you begin making monthly payments on the new loan. The application process for refinancing doesn't take much time, and many lenders can/may make determinations quickly.

What happens when you refinance a car with a cosigner?

The lender will consider your vehicle, your loan balance and the credit history of both you and your co-signer. If you qualify, you'll both sign the loan, and the car's title will be updated with that person's name and yours.

What is the lowest credit score you can have to refinance a car?

There is no minimum credit score required to refinance a car loan. That being said, there is a range that is considered a “good credit score” to refinance a car loan. In general, a credit score over 700 will unlock the best interest rates, and a credit score between 660-700 will give you access to standard rates.

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

Although liable for payments if you default, the cosigner doesn't share vehicle ownership. They also generally don't make regular monthly payments. Co-borrower: Also known as a co-applicant, the co-borrower shares financial responsibility and ownership of the car from day one.

How bad does a repo affect a cosigner?

When you co-sign on an auto loan, you take on all the credit impacts of the loan. This can be good if the primary borrower manages the loan well. But if they don't, your credit will be negatively impacted. A repossession can decrease your credit score by a hundred points or more.

How much does a repo affect a cosigner?

The Co-signer Will Also be in Default

Once the vehicle is sold at auction, the lender can pursue both you and your co-signor for the deficiency debt – the difference between what you owed on the vehicle less the auction sale price plus any cost associated with the sale, interest and late charges, etc.

How to refinance my vehicle?

  1. Review your existing auto loan.
  2. Determine the value of your car.
  3. Evaluate your credit.
  4. Gather information for your application.
  5. Compare lenders and rates.
  6. Apply to refinance your car loan.

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.

Can a cosigner claim ownership?

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.

How soon can you refinance a car?

After you buy a car, you have to wait at least 60 to 90 days before you can refinance, since it takes about this long to transfer the title to your name. Generally, it's best practice to wait to refinance a car loan for at least six to 12 months.

Can you sue a cosigner for a car loan?

The answer is 'yes', you can file suit against the co-signer on the basis of 'subrogation', which is essentially a request to be partially compensated based on what you were forced to pay out on her behalf due to her failure to cover her obligations that would have impacted you had you not take over the payments.

Who gets the car in a breakup?

If you and your significant other purchased the car together and both of your names are on the title (and on the lease), you may need to sell the car or have one owner buy out the other's share. Otherwise, you still legally share ownership of the car and must work together on splitting its use.

How does a voluntary repo affect a cosigner?

Your credit undergoes devastating, long-term effects when your car is repossessed. Both voluntary and involuntary car repossessions can even affect a cosigner's credit because each person shares the responsibility. However, a cosigner benefits from the same rights as the primary borrower if a repossession occurs.

How to refinance a cosigned loan?

Cosigners can refinance their own loans the same way they could before becoming a cosigner. However, you cannot refinance a loan you have cosigned. Only the “owner” of that loan — the borrower for whom you've cosigned — can do so.