Is a cosigner responsible for making payments on a car loan if the primary borrower does not?

Answer 1

That is exactly why the lender insisted on a cosigner. They didn't believe the borrower could/would make the payments. Cosigning means "I will pay if he/she doesn't." You are certainly responsible for the actions of primary to the extent of the loan....but consider after that it will be situational on what other liability could extend to you - certainly those are situations no one would want to be in! A cosigner is only needed because the primary doesn't have adequate credit rating/history for the needed loan. Hence, the cosigner needs to have credit good enough to qualify for the loan, and secure enough that they can risk much of what they have historically established for likely no real benefit - on someone others won't risk anything for, even with a possible very good business gain. Understand, being a cosigner is essentially the exact same as getting a loan - the cosigner is just as liable as if he got the loan on his own..in fact he needs to be more responsible. He now has to take on the obligations of the primary too, if needed, likely without the control, posession or benefit of what was purchased. Which is to say, if someone buys something for themselves, on their own credit, and then loses their job (or whatever) and has problems paying, they can sell the item and pay off (all/much of) the obligation. For many reasons, a cosigner may not be able to. And let me be clear, it is frequently shown that people who are irresponsible about their own credit (regardless of why it got that way) are even more irresponsible about others credit and obligations -- and this extends to obligations like those that come with owning/maintaining things. Things that may have your name connected to them.