What are the rights of a cosigner on a car?

Asked by: Miss Filomena Schamberger V  |  Last update: October 16, 2025
Score: 4.3/5 (58 votes)

If the borrower defaults on the loan, the co-signer has the right to take ownership of the motor vehicle and assume liability of the amount remaining due on the loan.

Does a cosigner have any rights to a vehicle?

Unlike co-borrowers, who are on the title or have some claim to the property or funds, co-signers have no title or ownership of the property the funds are used for. For example, a co-signer for a vehicle has no legal right to the financed vehicle.

Can I take back a car I cosigned for?

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.

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 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.

Cosigner rights and obligations

38 related questions found

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.

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 do I get my name off a cosigned car?

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.

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 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.

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.

Does a co-signer's name go on the title of a car?

A cosigner doesn't appear on your car's title. If you have a co-owner, though, you may be able to remove them from the title if the lender has a co-signer release option. If not, you must wait until you pay the loan in full or sell the vehicle to remove them.

Can I sue someone I cosigned a car for?

Can I sue the person I co-signed for if they don't pay? 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 much rights does a cosigner have?

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 do I remove a cosigner from a car title?

You can remove the co-signer by refinancing your auto loan, receiving a co-signer release or paying off the loan. Before removing the co-signer, ensure your credit score is high enough to receive the same or comparable rate if you refinance.

What ownership does a cosigner have?

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.

What happens if I am removed as an authorized user?

When you're removed as an authorized user, you no longer have the privilege of using the account, and the credit card issuer will stop updating the account on your credit report.

How to get out of a co-signed auto 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 a cosigner become the primary on a car loan?

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.

Can a cosigner legally take the car?

The answer is no, the cosigner has no legal right to take possession of the car. As a cosigner, you don't have legal ownership rights to the vehicle. In other words, a cosigner is on the vehicle's note (making them liable for the payments) but not the car title (which indicates ownership).

How do I get my car back from a cosigner?

But for now, the best way for how to remove a cosigner from a car loan is probably by applying for cosigner release. If that's not an option or if you're a co-borrower on the loan, refinancing or selling the car to pay off the loan are your other two options.

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 can I legally remove myself as a cosigner?

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 a cosigner have a car repossessed?

The lender can seek a deficiency judgment against you even though you didn't own the car and the person you cosigned for was supposed to make the payments. But if a car you cosigned for is repossessed, you still have rights when it comes to the sale and collection of the deficiency.

Can you remove someone from a car loan without refinancing?

Key takeaways

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.