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Can I Add Another Person to My Car Loan?

Finance | 11/19/2021 23:00

Refinancing a car loan is when you replace one car loan with another loan. The terms of your loan can change, since you are essentially starting over. This can often mean adding or removing a cosigner from your policy. If your situation has changed and you need a little help with monthly payments, or you could benefit from your friend’s excellent credit, refinancing with a cosigner might be a good idea. On the other hand, if you are looking to release your friend from that huge favor they did a few years ago when they cosigned for you, refinancing your vehicle might be a good way to remove them from the loan.


Here we will go over how to keep, remove, and add a cosigner to your car loan when you refinance.

3 persons in a car loan


What is a Cosigner?

So what exactly is a cosigner? A cosigner is a person who can sign onto a loan and be obligated to pay back the loan should the borrower have difficulties making on-time payments. They assume the same financial risk as the borrower. Having a cosigner with good credit can be beneficial in securing a lower APR and getting better auto loan deals.


How to Keep or Add a Cosigner

You originally cosigned with a good friend because you needed help with the payments (and needed an extra boost from their credit score). Rates are low now and you could use the lower car loan payments every month, so you decide you want to refinance your loan. Things are going well, and your credit hasn’t improved quite enough for you to commit to the loan entirely. Because of this, you would like to keep them on as a cosigner. 

Or maybe you originally took out your loan and it is way too much to keep up on every month. You are drowning in monthly payments, and you know refinancing will lower your monthly car loan payments and alleviate this. But your credit has taken a hit recently, and you know you aren’t getting the best rates as a result. Adding a cosigner can help you secure a better rate and more favorable terms. 

With either of these situations, you need to know how to refinance a car with a cosigner. The good news is you can easily keep or add a cosigner when you refinance. Your cosigner will simply have to meet the lender’s requirements. Here are the most common requirements to be added as a cosigner:


A Good (or Excellent) Credit Score

Great credit is the first requirement of cosigning a loan. Think of your cosigner as a safety net; should something happen to you financially, the lender is assured that there is a backup plan for payments being made on-time. A good credit score is an indication of how strong of a security net you have.

Credit scores are based on payment history, amounts owed (known as credit utilization), credit history length, credit mix, and new credit. A cosigner is only beneficial if they have good credit. A score of 670 and above is considered good, but the higher their credit score is the more helpful it will be to you.


A Good Payment History

Does your cosigner have a good history of on-time payments? Payment histories show lenders how people handle their debts. If you have a history of consistent payments, you are less of a risk to lenders. 


A Qualifying Income

Does your cosigner have a steady income? Their income needs to show that they can pay back the loan on your behalf if you are unable. 


Desire to Cosign

Do they want to help you out in this way? Becoming a cosigner comes with a lot of liability. Once they sign on the dotted line, they are responsible for the debt if you should default. 


A Clean Background Check

Lenders will often use background checks to determine the liability of a cosigner. They will specifically look for financial issues, including evictions, repossessions, and financial fraud.


How to Remove a Cosigner

Now let’s look at how to remove a cosigner from a car loan. Has your credit improved significantly since your original loan, and you no longer need the help of another person? Maybe you want to reduce the risk for a loved one who was helping you out in a time of need. Whatever the reason, you are ready to remove them as cosigner.

There are three ways to remove a cosigner from your loan, but refinancing is certainly the most popular.


Try to Remove them From Your Existing Policy

Read your contract carefully and closely and see if there are any provisions that will allow the cosigner to be released from responsibility. This is very unlikely, as cosigning is put in place specifically to make it difficult for one person to back out. But it is worthwhile to look through your contract if you are thinking about it.


Pay Off the Loan

If you pay off the loan entirely, you will remove the cosigner automatically. This may not be a practical solution however if you are not in the position to do so. 


Refinance and Remove the Cosigner

This is the most popular and easiest way to remove a cosigner. Since refinancing is replacing one loan with another, you are essentially paying off the original loan and starting over. Before you decide to do this, check on the following:


  • Your Credit Score. Is your score in good or excellent standing? If it is still not in good standing, expect to pay higher interest rates if you drop your cosigner.

  • Your Cash Flow. Are you able to make the monthly payments every month? Do not remove your cosigner if things will still be very tight. Falling behind on payments will be detrimental to your credit and can result in you losing your car.

  • Your Current Loan. Are there prepayment penalties if you pay off your loan?  If the penalties are high, it will negate any savings from refinancing. Is there enough time remaining on your loan to make refinancing worth it? If you are near the end of your loan term it is likely not worthwhile to refinance.

  • Your Car’s Condition. Is your car retaining value and eligible to be refinanced? If you owe more on your car than it is worth, you will most likely not be eligible to refinance.


And that’s everything you need to know about adding, keeping, and removing a cosigner from an auto loan. 

If any of the above situations were relatable to you, it might be a good time to consider vehicle refinancing. At Auto Approve we can help you compare quotes from multiple lenders and help you refinance today. With an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, you know you’re in good hands with our team.

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The Best Car Movies for Kids Who Love Wheels

It can be hard to find movies that are both suitable for kids and fun for adults, especially in the younger years when kids are super into cars, trucks, and wheels of all kinds. This list contains some of the top-rated kid-friendly car movies, whether you’re setting them up for a watch from the road, preparing for a road trip, or just planning a fun family movie night.Here are some of the best kid-friendly movies featuring vehicles and characters with wheels.Kids Movies with Cars and WheelsWe’ve included information about content suitability here, but it’s ultimately up to you to know what’s right for your child and your household rules, of course!1. Cars SeriesCommon Sense Media Age Rating: 5+ (up to 8+ depending on the film)Starting this list off with a bang, Pixar’s Cars and all its various sequels and spin-offs are probably the number one choice for parents and car-obsessed kids. There’s tons of content in the series, and all of it has the Disney-Pixar stamp of approval, meaning you know you’re getting good family fun.The series includes Cars, Cars 2, Cars 3, several TV series and short films, and the spin-offs Planes and Planes: Fire & Rescue. Cars (the original) has the highest Rotten Tomatoes score and Planes has the lowest, so prepare yourself accordingly.2. Herbie MoviesCommon Sense Media Age Rating: 7+Another well-known car-centric family friendly series, The Love Bug, its Herbie sequels, and the 2005 remake Herbie: Fully Loaded are widely accepted as car-centric kid-friendly classics. While older movies can sometimes come with discussion points about content, The Love Bug remains good family fun with little that hasn’t aged well – and Herbie: Fully Loaded might be better than some remember (or at least will keep the kids entertained).3. 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With memorable performances from Spencer Tracy, Jimmy Durante, Ethel Merman, and Mickey Rooney, it’s an old-school movie but well worth a watch.5. Tom and Jerry: The Fast and the FurryCommon Sense Media Age Rating: 5+If you haven’t thought about Tom and Jerry since you were a kid yourself, you wouldn’t be alone, but the classic cartoon is still releasing new films at a steady pace. The Fast and the Furry, a 75-minute long movie from 2005, is considered among the best, and follows Tom and Jerry racing around the world in hopes of winning a new home after accidentally wrecking their old house. Tom and Jerry fans and skeptics alike are apt to enjoy this short, zany, G-rated race movie.Kids can be expensive!If you want more money in your pocket for the things that matter most, consider refinancing your vehicle with Auto Approve. If you got your financing from a dealer, you’re likely paying a higher rate than you need to be. 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The good news is, the odds are good that Auto Approve can help you lower your monthly auto loan payment, your rate, or both!Simply tell us a little bit about your vehicle and current loan – no commitment or credit check required to get started – and you’ll be matched with an Auto Approve representative who can help you find the best deal for you, then do the paperwork for you.Get your free quote now.

The 3 Best American Road Trips To Take This Year

Thinking about a road trip this year, but not sure which of the many amazing classic American road trips to take? You’re in the right place.While it’s hard to say that any one singular road trip is the best most beautiful roast trip to take – the United States has tons of interesting terrain, stunning vistas, and cultural landmarks from sea to shining sea – we’ve compiled three favorites that you can start planning right now.There are many more great options. Traveling Route 66 or visiting the Grand Canyon are evergreen classics. But these uniquely excellent drives were selected for weather, accessibility, and combination of natural wonders and modern conveniences. American Road Trips to Take In 2025What’s the best road trip to take for you? Only you can decide that, but it’ll depend on who you’re driving with (or if you’re flying solo!), where you’re starting your journey, and how long you want to spend in the day, per car and overall. Each of these road trips can be shortened or lengthened with fewer or more stops, and each has their pros and cons. And once you’ve picked one, check out our road trip planner.1. New England: Jamestown to Acadia National ParkIf you’re craving a seaside getaway, it doesn’t get much more iconic than a drive up the New England coastline. This is a great option for summer and fall road trips. During the summer, you get cooler temperatures than much of the US, sea breezes, lobster rolls, and beach days. During the fall, you get stunning fall colors, script temperatures, bonfires, and apple pie.This is a particularly great road trip for families and those not inclined to spend endless hours in the car, since the total driving time is fairly short and the stop options are plentiful, from bustling city life in Boston to the amazing restaurants of Portsmouth, NH, and Portland, ME, to the lighthouses, ocean views, and sprawling forests of coastal Maine and Acadia National Park. Driving time (one way without stops, approx.): 6 hoursStop ideas: RI: Jamestown, Providence; MA: Cape Cod, Boston, Salem; NH: Portsmouth; ME: Ogunquit, Portland, Freeport, Augusta, Bar Harbor, Acadia National Park You won’t want to make all these stops in a row, but if you’re driving round trip, you can always see the LL Bean boot in Freeport one way and make time for Salem’s witches (or lack thereof) on the way back.One word to the wise: This road trip won’t work in the winter due to the weather in the Northeast. 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Just remember, when you’re spending a lot of time in National Parks, you want to make sure you plan your road trip meticulously. Gas stations and places to stay the night can be few and far between, and some things may book up months in advance.Don’t have a ton of time but want to see Big Sky Country? You can also fly into Yellowstone Airport (WYS) and land just two miles from Yellowstone National Park.Which of These 3 Beautiful Road Trips In The United States Sings to You?There’s no wrong choice – you want to choose something that fits the amount of time you have, your budget, and your interests.Want to spend more on your dream road trip and less on your monthly car payment?Most people are paying more than they need to on their auto loan, thanks to dealership rate markups! AutoApprove can help you find a better rate in just a few clicks. Tell us a bit about your vehicle – no commitment required – to find out how much you could potentially save through refinancing. An AutoApprove representative will help you find the deal that’s right for you, and once you’ve selected your refinance, we do the paperwork for you, easy as that!That means more money in your pocket for the things that matter most – whether that’s a soul-searching solo trip or an unforgettable family vacation.Get your free quote now.

Useful Skills You Can Learn While Driving

Have you ever considered learning while you drive? Whether you want to make better use of a daily commute or are heading out on a long solo drive, if you want to learn a skill from behind the wheel, we have some ideas for you!The key to learning on the road is to choose something you can do with just audio media – and to make sure nothing you do is so engrossing that you lose focus. It’s important that you still drive safely, no matter what. Essentially, we recommend skills you can learn from an audiobook or podcast and repetitive activities that allow you to build up your knowledge or talents over time.Let’s take a look.Things You Can Learn While DrivingThe average American driver spends, according to a AAA survey, just over an hour in their car every single day. Why not find ways to be productive with all that time? Here are some things you can pick up while you drive.1. Learn a LanguageThis is probably the most popular skill to tackle in the car. Whether you’re brushing up on a language you learned in high school, preparing for a trip, trying to improve your chances at a new job, or learning just to stay sharp, there are tons of good reasons to learn a language while you drive. And, yes, while you’ll also need to supplement with written lessons, you can work on your listening and speaking skills in the car.Depending on which language you want to learn and your level, you’ll need different resources, but here are a few ideas for ways to get started:Starting from 0: Listen to podcasts that teach you the basics (for example, Pimsleur and LanguagePod101 both have podcast-based language lessons)For skill building: Listen to programs designed for language learners (for example, News in Slow is designed for people currently learning at a beginner to intermediate level to practice listening comprehension) For advanced learners: Grow your vocabulary and get closer to fluency by listening to music or news in your target language and trying to capture any unfamiliar words, phrases, or ideas2. Listen to the Sounds of NatureIf you’re interested in the natural world, you could use the time to learn things like the calls of birds local to your area. Avid birders in particular might find this interesting – and there are many resources for birders, since it’s such a popular hobby (BirdNote Daily is a good option) – but resources exist for frog fans and other animal lovers as well, dependent on your region. And there’s no reason you need to stick to your own backyard! Noisy by Nature is a kid-focused podcast that introduces the sounds of Australian wildlife (and is, frankly, fascinating for all ages).As an added bonus, nature sounds can also be relaxing, which is helpful when you’re stuck in traffic in a 20 minute slowdown.3. Write Better EmailsWhether you’re an English learner, a complete word nerd, or someone who struggled with writing in school and wants to up their email game, there are tons of great podcasts about English grammar, word usage, and how people speak. A few top recommendations include: Grammar GirlThe AllusionistVocal FriesYou’re Saying It WrongWebster's Word of the DayExpanding your vocabulary, mastering complex grammar rules, getting into the nitty-gritty of style, and discovering common malapropisms and mistakes can make you a better writer, reader, and conversationalist.4. Level Up Your Financial LiteracyThere are tons of great personal finance podcasts being made right now. If you’ve never spent much time thinking about budgeting, saving, or your own attitudes toward money, learning about the basics of finance while you drive could be a huge help!Planet Money, which covers current events in the world of money and investment, is a fascinating and informative podcast, while So Money, Money For the Rest of Us, and Afford Anything are a few of the many long-running hits in the finance space. Read reviews and find a podcast that fits your taste – and just remember, no podcast gives specific advice, so ask a professional before making big money moves!Trying to be smarter with money?You don’t need to learn any new skills to refinance your vehicle and start saving money. Most people are paying more than they need to be on their auto loan. A refinance can help you secure a lower rate and pay less. Plus, it’s easy! AutoApprove can help you find the right deal for your unique situation – and do the paperwork for you.Get a free, no-commitment quote to see how much you could save.5. Practice Using Your VoiceWhether you’re a nervous public speaker or thinking about getting into amateur opera, the car is the perfect place to get vocal reps in. There are tons of voice teachers making content online – you could find a vocal warm-up to try while you drive, or look up exercises in advance and put them into practice when the car door is closed.Whether you rehearse a presentation or sales pitch, practice improvising speeches, or sing do-re-mi, the car is a rare place where you can let yourself be as noisy as you want, take advantage of it!6. Build Your Understanding of MathRegardless of your current level of math expertise, you can skill build while in the car. Some people work on basic skills like solving simple number problems, memorizing multiplication tables, or learning more of the digits of pi. Or, if you prefer to simply listen, there are many engaging math listens that can make you fall in love with math. A few top podcast options include: The Joy of XBreaking MathMy Favorite TheoremOpinionated History of MathematicsLeveling up your understanding of math can help you see the world in a new light! And hey, maybe you can impress your friends with your new intel.7. Learn About the WorldLast but certainly not least, there are so many great educational podcasts about all manner of things, from history to economics to niche scientific fields. Taking the time to simply learn broadly about different topics that interest you wherever you can is a very productive way to spend your time in the car. Some of the best options happen to overlap with our recommended podcasts for long drives, like Ologies, 99% Invisible, The Happiness Lab, and Revolutions. But the thing that interests you most when you set out on the road is always the best option, whatever that may be – even if it’s something silly like the workings of ‘90s cars or learning to understand Morse code. Whatever you choose, expanding your worldview and learning something new is always a good choice!And Those Are Seven Useful Ways To Spend Your Driving TimeMost of us spend quite a bit of time behind the wheel, trying to make something of that time is an admirable pursuit! From language learning to amateur opera performance, there’s always something interesting to do to pass the time and challenge your mind.But refinancing your vehicle doesn’t take any time at all.You could be paying less monthly on your auto loan, putting more cash back in your pocket for the things that matter most. Find out how much you could save with just a few clicks and no commitment. Get your free quote now.
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