How to remove a co-signer from a car loan
1 min read
Most lenders won't just remove a co-signer — you have to refinance. Here's the realistic path and what credit you need on your own.
The only real path: refinance solo
Auto loans almost never allow co-signer removal mid-loan. The legal fix is to refinance the loan in your name only, which pays off the original loan and releases the co-signer.
What credit you need
You'll generally need a credit score in the mid-600s or better to qualify on your own. If your score is below that, the rate may be higher than your current loan — meaning you'd be paying for the co-signer's freedom.
Timing matters
Wait until you have 12+ months of clean on-time payments showing on your own credit report. Lenders weigh recent history heavily. The co-signer can help by being patient.
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