Who should be the primary on a car loan?

Asked by: Bailee Predovic  |  Last update: October 14, 2025
Score: 4.4/5 (22 votes)

The primary borrower has the ownership rights to the vehicle. The cosigner does not. This is the case whether the borrower bought the car from a dealership or from a private seller using a private party auto loan.

Does it matter who is primary on a car loan?

However, if the primary borrower defaults and the co-signer doesn't step in to pay, the co-signer is held responsible, and their credit score may suffer. Co-owners, on the other hand, are equally responsible for the loan from the start. If payments are made on time, both parties' credit scores can improve.

Who should be the primary borrower on a loan?

Some lenders, however, may indicate a “primary borrower.” The criteria for determining who this person is differs among mortgage lenders. Some may define the primary borrower as the person with the higher income, for instance, or as the person whose name appears first on the application.

Whose credit score is used on a joint auto loan?

Whose Credit Score Is Used on a Joint Auto Loan? Lenders consider both borrowers' credit scores when considering joint auto loan applications. The borrowers must qualify for the lender to approve the loan. Payments, or the lack of payment, affect the borrowers' credit scores.

Should car loan be in both names?

It probably does not matter whether the loan is in one or both names. The name or names on the loan will be reported to the credit bureau. It also may be that the lender might require two incomes to approve the loan.

Choosing the Right Term: Deciding the Ideal Car Loan Duration

35 related questions found

Does it matter whose name is first on a car title?

The order of the names on the title do not matter.

Does it matter whose name is first on a loan?

When evaluating borrowers for a joint mortgage, the lender cares less about who is listed first, and more about the sum of the applicants' earnings and debts. In general, the lender evaluates the application the way the applicants submit it, without regard to whose name is listed first.

Should wife be on car loan?

If your spouse has a better credit score than you, you may qualify for a better interest rate and be able to access more generous payment terms than you would if you were able to secure the loan by yourself. The same applies for any cosigner with better credit history and higher annual income than yours.

Who gets the credit on a cosigned loan?

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. The co-signer's credit scores may be positively or negatively impacted by the borrower's credit behavior.

What FICO score do most auto lenders use?

FICO Score 5 and FICO Score 8 are both common credit scores. Mortgage and auto lenders often use FICO Score 5, while credit card issuers typically use FICO Score 8.

Can a primary borrower be removed from a car loan?

Ending a Cosigned Car Loan. As the cosigner, you can't remove the primary borrower from the loan. 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.

Is it better to have a co-borrower on a car loan?

Key takeaways

Adding a co-borrower or a co-signer can improve your approval odds and help you secure better terms. Co-signers back the loan but don't have access to the funds, whereas co-borrowers can access the borrowed funds. Being a co-signer or a co-borrower can impact your credit and comes with financial risks.

Who should be the primary account holder?

The primary account holder of a credit card is typically the person whose name is on it. When they apply for a credit card, the issuing bank will generally check their credit reports and credit score to make sure they are a good risk.

Does it matter who is the primary borrower?

It does not matter. BOTH are equally responsible for the loan. So Primary vs Co-Borrower is just semantics. Some businesses don't even have "Primary" and just call them both "Borrowers."

How do I remove a primary owner from my car loan?

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.

Can a co-signer sue the primary borrower on a car loan?

Cosigners can take the primary borrower to court if the primary borrower fails to repay the loan or otherwise fails to fulfill the terms of their agreement.

Can a primary borrower take possession of the car?

In other words, if you wanted to get in the car and drive away with it, you'd have the right to do so, since (presumably) you're the owner of the car as well (this does not apply if you're only a co-signer on a loan). You could also take the co-signer to court for financial damages.

Can I remove myself from a cosigned 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.

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.

Why spouses should never title automobiles jointly?

For married couples the rule of thumb is for each spouse to individually own the car they drive. The reason for this is to limit liability in the event of an accident.

Can you take over someone's car loan?

While most lenders frown upon auto loan assumptions, some lenders may allow a loan takeover under certain circumstances. Provided the new borrower fills out an application to see if they qualify to assume the responsibility of the vehicle and payments, they may essentially apply for a new loan.

Is a spouse responsible for a cosigned loan?

If you cosigned your spouse's student loan and they later file for bankruptcy, you would still be responsible for that debt. In this instance, both you and your spouse's credit scores could be severely damaged.

Does it matter whose name is first on a title?

When It Comes To Deeds, Does it matter whose name is first on a house title?? Property deeds do not generally affect ownership rights based on the order in which the names appear.

What if my name is on the loan but not on the title?

You are not the property owner when your name on mortgage but not on deed. Your role on the mortgage is merely that of a co-signer. Because your name appears on the mortgage, you are responsible for making the payments on the loan, just like the property owner.

How do you decide whose name goes first?

The Couple's Names

Traditionally, it's the bride's first and middle name followed by the groom's full name. The bride's name is usually first because the bride's parents are typically the hosts and, thus, the ones paying for the event. Some people like the traditional way; others find it a way of the past.