Decision guideBorrowing 3 min

Should I co-sign a loan for someone?

A co-signer isn't a character reference — you're a full borrower. The lender can come to you first, the whole payment counts against your debt-to-income ratio, and every late payment lands on your credit report. Four questions before you sign.

30-second explainer

40s

The short version — then walk through the questions below for your situation.

Question 1 of about 4

If they stopped paying tomorrow, could you cover the full payment every month without missing your own bills?

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Educational only — not legal, tax, or financial advice. Typical ranges are shown; your contract, lender, and state law set the exact rules. MoneyFAQ is not a lender.