6 Personal Loans With a Cosigner in 2023

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?
LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appear on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appear on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.
Privacy Secured  |  Advertising Disclosures
 

Best personal loans with a cosigner in 2023

Written by Amanda Push | Edited by Katie Lowery | Reviewed November 27, 2023

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?
LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appear on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appear on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.
LenderUser ratingsBest for...APR rangeLoan amountsLoan terms
LendingClub logoDebt consolidation9.57% - 35.99%$1,000 - $40,00024 to 60 monthsSee Offers
LightStream logo
User Ratings & Reviews rating-reviews-tooltip-icon

Ratings and reviews are from real consumers who have used the lending partner’s services.

Large loan amounts7.49% - 25.49% *with autopay$5,000 - $100,00024 to 144* monthsSee Offers
Navy Federal Credit Union logoUser ratings coming soonMilitary members and veterans8.99% - 18.00%$250 - $50,000Up to 180 monthsSee Offers
(863)
User Ratings & Reviews rating-reviews-tooltip-icon

Ratings and reviews are from real consumers who have used the lending partner’s services.

Quick funding18.00% - 35.99%$1,500 - $20,00024 to 60 monthsSee Offers
SoFi logoZero required fees8.99% - 25.81% *with autopay$5,000 - $100,00024 to 84 monthsSee Offers
Bad credit borrowers8.49% - 35.99% *with autopay$1,000 - $50,00024 to 84 monthsSee Offers

Read more about how we chose our lenders.

Lenders at a glance

LendingClub logo

Best for debt consolidation

APR range9.57% - 35.99%
Loan amounts$1,000 - $40,000
Loan terms24 to 60 months
Origination fee3.00% - 8.00%
Min. credit score600
ProsCons

  May receive funds within 24 hours of approval

  No prepayment fees

  Option to prequalify for a loan

  Charges an origination fee of 3.00% - 8.00%

  Charges high interest rates (up to 35.99%)

  Limited loan terms of 24 to 60 months

LightStream logo

Best for large loan amounts

User ratings
User Ratings & Reviews rating-reviews-tooltip-icon

Ratings and reviews are from real consumers who have used the lending partner’s services.

APR range7.49% - 25.49%* with autopay
Loan amounts$5,000 - $100,000**
Loan terms24 to 144 months*
Origination feeNo origination fee
Min. credit scoreNot specified
ProsCons

  Low starting interest rates

  No origination fees

  No prepayment fees

  Same-day funding available (conditions apply)

  No option to prequalify

  You can take out a longer-term loan, but you’ll pay more interest

  Consumers with low credit may not qualify

Navy Federal Credit Union logo

APR range8.99% - 18.00%
Loan amounts$250 - $50,000
Term (months)Up to 180
Origination feeNone
Min. credit scoreNot specified
ProsCons

  Low maximum interest rate of 18.00%

  Long repayment terms, up to 180 months

  Small borrowing minimum of $250

  Charges a $29 late fee

  Must be connected to the military to be eligible

  Unclear on some personal loan qualification requirements

OneMain Financial logo

Best for quick funding

APR range18.00% - 35.99%
Loan amounts$1,500 - $20,000
Term (months)24 to 60
Origination fee1.00% - 10.00%
Min. credit scoreNot specified
ProsCons

  May receive funds within one business day of approval

  No prepayment penalties

  Flexible loan terms

  Low maximum loan amount

  Charges higher interest rates

  Charges an origination fee (1.00% - 10.00%)

SoFi logo

Best for no required fees

User ratings
APR range8.99% - 25.81%* with autopay
Loan amounts$5,000 - $100,000*
Loan terms24 to 84 months
Origination fee0.00% - 6.00%
Min. credit score680
ProsCons

  Does not charge any required fees

  Offers unemployment support

  Provides 0.25% autopay discount

  High maximum loan amount

  Co-applicant must live at same address as you

  Having a co-applicant can lengthen the application process significantly

  High minimum loan amount

Upgrade logo

Best for bad-credit borrowers

User ratings
APR range8.49% - 35.99%* with autopay
Loan amounts$1,000 - $50,000
Loan terms24 to 84 months
Origination fee1.85% - 9.99%
Min. credit score580
ProsCons

  May receive funds within one business day of approval

  Offers secured loans as an option

  Provides autopay discount

  Charges an origination fee (1.85% - 9.99%)

  May be charged a late fee after 15 days of a missed payment

  High interest rates (up to 35.99%)

loading image

What is a cosigner?

A cosigner is a second person who signs a loan agreement, taking equal legal responsibility for repaying the loan.

Getting a personal loan with a cosigner can make it much easier for the original borrower to qualify for a loan because, in the eyes of lenders, a second person agreeing to take ownership of the loan lessens the risk of lending to that individual.

If the original borrower is unable to repay the loan, the lender can try to collect from the cosigner.

Cosigner vs. co-borrower

The terms cosigner and co-borrower are sometimes used interchangeably, but there are important legal distinctions to keep in mind.

Co-borrowers have a right to access the funds or assets that are borrowed, while a cosigner does not. For instance, if you’re a student, and one of your parents cosigned a loan to cover your school expenses, your parent does not have the right to access the funds you borrowed.

On the other hand, if you take out a home improvement loan to pay for a kitchen remodel and your spouse is the co-borrower, he or she has an equal right to access the funds from the loan. Your spouse is also equally on the hook for any missed payments or if you default on the loan.

What are the risks of using a cosigner?

Before you decide to cosign a personal loan, it’s important to evaluate the downsides of choosing this route. Here’s what you need to know about the risks of using a co-applicant on a loan:

  • If the loan is not repaid, both parties are held equally responsible for the debt. This means that missed payments can impact both of your credit scores. The lender may also transfer your debt to a collection service, and one or both of you could be sued by a debt collector in order to secure repayment.
  • When applying for a loan, lenders often run a hard-credit inquiry on your credit profile. This can put a small dent in both the original borrower’s and co-applicant’s credit scores.
  • Cosigning or co-borrowing for a loan can also increase your debt-to-income ratio, which may make it more challenging to secure other forms of credit down the road.
  • If you have trouble repaying a loan, financial repercussions may not be the only fallout. Your relationship to your co-applicant may suffer, as well.

How to compare personal loans if you have a cosigner

Applying for a personal loan with a cosigner comes with its own set of hoops you’ll need to jump through along with your co-applicant. Here’s what you should consider before applying for a loan:

  • Cosigner qualifications: You’ll have certain criteria you’ll need to meet as a borrower, and your cosigner will also have to fit these qualifications. This may include income, credit score, credit history and where they live (some lenders may require that your co-applicant live at the same address as you).
  • Application timeline: If you use a cosigner or co-borrower, this may add extra time to the personal loan application process since your lender won’t just be evaluating you, but your co-applicant, as well.
  • Cosigner release: In some cases, lenders may offer you the opportunity to release your cosigner from your loan contract after a certain period of time. There may be other requirements involved in cosigner release, such as having a history of on-time payments. Many lenders don’t offer cosigner release, however, so be sure to read the fine print of any loan you sign for. If you want to release your cosigner from the terms of your personal loan, you may have to consider personal loan refinancing instead.
  • Interest rates, terms, fees and amounts: Like applying as an individual, it’s also important to review and compare important details such as interest rates, terms, fees and amounts. You can shop for personal loan lenders on LendingTree’s marketplace.

How to apply for a personal loan with a cosigner

Applying for a personal loan with a cosigner isn’t much different than applying for one by yourself, though the process may take a little longer and you may need to make some extra considerations.

Check your credit scores

Knowing your credit scores ahead of time can guide you on which lenders you may or may not qualify with. It can also give you an idea of what kind of interest rate you may qualify for. If your cosigner has a good credit score, you may qualify for lower rates.

Prepare your documents

During the loan application process, lenders will want to verify your information. To help speed up the process, it may be helpful to prepare those documents ahead of time. A few items you may need offer for both applicants include:

  • A government-issued identification (driver’s license, passport or birth certificate)
  • Proof of income (W-2s or pay stubs)
  • Proof of residence (your rental or mortgage loan agreement)

Compare lenders

Securing the lowest interest rates and fees is an important aspect of shopping around for a personal loan. Before submitting an application, check which lenders offer the opportunity to prequalify for a loan. This can allow you to check what rates you may be eligible for without hurting your credit score.

Fill out an application

Once you find a lender that best fits your needs, you’ll formally apply and submit to a hard-credit pull, which can temporarily lower your credit score. Once you’re officially approved and you sign your loan contract, you will receive your loan funds in the form of a lump sum.

Frequently asked questions

Credit score requirements vary from lender to lender. In general, it is wise to have a cosigner with at least a credit score of 670 or higher. This can make it easier to not only get approved for a personal loan but also receive better offers that can save you money and offer you financial flexibility.

If your cosigner has a good credit score and a history of repaying debts on time, it may be easier for you to get approved for a loan. This is because including a co-applicant lowers the lender’s risk when offering you a loan, since it can hold two people accountable for repayment instead of just one.

Loans with a cosigner may be a good route if you are in need of a personal loan but don’t have a good credit score, need a large amount of money or want to receive a lower interest rate. A co-applicant with a solid credit score and history can make it easier to achieve those financial goals. If you’re unable to find a cosigner, you may also want to consider bad credit loans.

If you’re unable to repay a personal loan that you took out with a cosigner, both your and your cosigner’s credit scores can be impacted. Because both of you are legally responsible for the repayment of the loan, your lender can require that either you or your cosigner pay.

 

If your co-applicant can afford it, they may have to make those payments until the loan is paid off. If they’re unable to repay the loan, you both may default on the loan. In this case, your loan may be sent to a collection agency that may attempt to collect it or sue you both if you don’t repay the debt.

How we chose the best personal loans with cosigners

We looked at 12 lenders that offer personal loan services to determine the six best lenders for borrowers with cosigners or co-borrowers. By offering a detailed and objective account of each lender’s rates and terms, LendingTree’s goal is to provide you with all the information you need to make a financially sound decision specific to your situation.

Here are the criteria we used to choose the best personal loans that allow for a cosigner:

  • Allows for either a cosigner or co-borrower
  • Transparent rates and repayment terms
  • Flexible loan amounts
  • Low fees