What You Need to Know About Co-Signer on a Car Loan

Car loans are a serious financial obligation and can be particularly difficult to obtain if you have bad credit or no credit history at all. Fortunately, there is another option available to borrowers of this kind and that is having someone cosign a loan with you. But what exactly is a co-signer on a car loan and how to get one or be one?  

Co-signer is an individual with a good credit score and credit history who is taking on the responsibility of signing a loan deal with someone. This doesn’t mean that co-signer is there to make regular payments or something like that but instead to guarantee that the borrower will make the payments themselves and if they fail in doing so, the co-signer will be responsible for the outstanding amount.   

If you’re considering co-signing a car loan for someone, there are a few things you should know beforehand. First and foremost, as a co-signer, you become just as responsible for the loan as the primary borrower. This means that if they miss a payment or default on the loan, your credit will be impacted as well.  

Another thing to keep in mind is that your name will be on the car’s title along with the borrower’s. This means that if they decide to sell the car or trade it in, you may have to sign off on those documents.   

Lastly, co-signing a loan is a big responsibility and should not be taken lightly. Make sure that you trust the borrower and that you feel comfortable with being equally responsible for the loan before moving forward.  

What Is the Procedure of Co-Signing a Car Loan?

So, if you are still set on co-signing a car loan for someone, it is important to understand the process and what your responsibilities will be. Here is a look at the procedure for co-signing an auto loan: 

1. The first step is to fill out a credit application with the lender. This will include your personal information as well as financial information.  
2. Once the credit application is complete, the lender will run a credit check on both you and the borrower.  
3. If you don’t have the best credit, you may be asked to provide additional documentation such as proof of income or assets.  
4. Once everything is approved, you will sign the loan documents along with the borrower. This makes you legally responsible for repaying the loan if the borrower defaults.  

However, make sure you understand all of the terms of the loan before signing, including the interest rate, repayment schedule, and any penalties for late payments or defaults. Even if you are completely confident that the borrower will be responsible and make all the payments on time, it doesn’t hurt to know exactly what you are in for.  

Advantages of Co-Signing for a Car Loan

As an individual with good credit, you may be able to help a friend or family member with bad credit buy a car by co-signing for their auto loan. When you co-sign a loan, you agree to be responsible for the debt if the borrower doesn’t make the payments. This can be a risky proposition, but there are some advantages to this process as well:  

• You can help someone with bad credit get a loan. There is a high chance they would not be able to obtain this financing otherwise so you would be doing them a big favor.   

• This can improve your relationship. By helping someone buy a car, you can strengthen your relationship with them.  

• You may get them a lower interest rate. If you have good credit, the interest rate on the loan may be lower than it would be if the borrower had applied for the loan on their own.  

• You can still protect yourself financially. When you cosign for an auto loan, make sure that you add yourself as an authorized user on the account so that you receive payment notifications and can keep track of the account balance. This will help you protect your own credit score in case the borrower misses payments or defaults on the loan.  

• This can improve your credit score. If everything turns out well and the borrower makes all payments on time, this could bump up your score as well. 

Disadvantages of Co-Signing for a Car Loan

There are a few disadvantages to co-signing for a car loan that you should be aware of before you agree to do so.   

• If the primary borrower defaults on the loan, you will be responsible for paying it off.   
• This process can put a strain on your finances and damage your credit score if both the borrower and you are not able to make the payments.   
• You may have difficulty getting approved for loans in the future if your name is attached to another person’s debt.   
• This is a risky proposition if the primary borrower is not financially responsible. The debt can reflect poorly on your credit report as well if the borrower is late with payments.  

What Impact Could Co-Signing a Car Loan Have on Your Credit?

When you co-sign a car loan, you are essentially agreeing to be responsible for the debt if the primary borrower defaults on the loan. And as we already mentioned, this can have a major impact on your credit score and credit history.  

If the primary borrower misses a payment or defaults on the loan, it will show up on your credit report. This will significantly damage your credit score and make it difficult to get approved for future loans.  

Additionally, as the co-signer, you may be liable for the entire balance of the loan if the primary borrower does not make payments at all. This could put you in a difficult financial situation and ruin your credit score.  

That’s why before co-signing a car loan, it is important to fully understand the risks you are taking on. Yes, you are essentially doing the favor to the other person but that isn’t something that should be done at all costs. Only co-sign for someone you trust and who has a good track record of making payments on time.  

Should You Get a Cosigner for a Car Loan?

And if the tables are turned and you are the one looking to finance a new or used car, you may be wondering if you should get a cosigner for your loan. While having a cosigner can increase your chances of getting approved for a loan and help you secure a lower interest rate, it’s not always the best option.   

Remember that you will still put someone else’s finances and credit score at risk. And while you may be a good responsible borrower, are you comfortable with putting someone you know and love at risk if you default?  

But, whether or not you should get a cosigner really depends on your personal financial situation and credit history. If you have good credit and can afford the monthly payments on your own, then there’s really no need to add a cosigner to your loan. However, if you have bad credit or are struggling to get approved for financing, then having a cosigner could be beneficial.  

As a general rule, if your credit score is below 620, then using a cosigner may help increase your chances of getting approved for an auto loan. Additionally, if you have little to no credit history, getting an auto loan co-signer will help immensely.  

Conclusion

Co-signing a car loan can be an incredibly helpful and generous gesture, but it also comes with some risks that you should consider before signing on the dotted line. Being aware of all potential implications will help protect both parties involved in the transaction.   

In this guide, we tried to warn you about all the negatives that can come with it, but also shine a light on some positive sides of this process. At the end, as always, the final decision on whether to do it or not is up to you. We hope that this article has provided you with important information about what to know and what to expect when co-signing a car loan.