How To Take Over Car Payments: Transferring Car Loans To Another Person

in Ownership
Car parked outside a house

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Car loan payments are difficult to deal with daily. If possible, wouldn’t you want someone else to take over your car payments for you if they wanted? Is it possible to transfer the loans to another person and have them take over car payments?

Read on to learn more about the ins and outs of transferring car loans to another person. We’ll discuss the practicality of the action and the steps to follow if shifting becomes a possibility in your future. There’s a lot to cover, so let’s get started!

Can You Transfer Loans?

Are you allowed to have someone else take over car payments? Can you transfer loans from one person to another? 

Although lenders don’t enjoy it, it’s possible to transfer loans in specific situations. According to jdpower.com, this ability depends on the original contract, acceptable credit of the person taking on the loans, and more.

There are a few reasons a person might want to transfer a loan. Maybe you want to refinance the car. Or you might want to sell your vehicle without finishing the loan. You can also switch the amount if you’re trading your automobile or want to get out of the monthly payments. Let’s discuss how you can transfer loans to allow someone else to take over car payments.


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Steps to Transfer Loans

Now that we’ve discussed the possibility of transferring loans, it’s time to dive into the necessary steps to complete the process and allow someone else to take over car payments for you.

Accordion to lanterncredit.com, here are the required steps to transfer a car loan:

  • Talk to the original lender
  • Look at your contract
  • Have the borrower examine the contract
  • File new loan paperwork
  • Change the title

If successful, these permit the transfer of responsibility.

Let’s discuss each step further to help you feel confident in the exchange process. It’s tricky to transfer loans, but not impossible in the right circumstances.

Talk to the Original Lender

First, make your intentions clear with the original lender. Before anything can happen, you need permission since it is their money. You will need to provide a case that supports your rationale for the transfer of responsibility. Is the borrower responsible? How much money do you have left to pay?

If the lender agrees, they may ask you to prove why you can’t make them and show that the new borrower can pay. They may need to display a credit history or other proof of on-time payments. They want to ensure they still get paid. Once you have their approval, proceed.


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Look at Your Contract

The next thing you need to do is examine the original contract. The lender may have cleared you to move forward with the transfer, but you need to double-check the conditions you agreed to when you first put your name on the contract. 

The contract will tell you:

  • How much debt is left on the loan
  • Who the debt is paid to
  • Special fees that happen when transfers occur
  • Rules, terms, and restrictions in a transfer

Everything you need to know is in that contract.

Ensure you read every detail to stay within the legal bounds of the contract. You might even hire someone to review it to avoid missing crucial notations.


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Have the Borrower Examine the Contract

You’ve had your turn to examine the contract. Now, allow the person taking on the responsibility to look at this legal document. They need to understand what they will be responsible for when the title switches hands.

The examination is an excellent time to discuss any troubles the new borrower might have with the contract. The old also may not be like the new - the lender might shift things around to fit the replacement individual’s income and credit score. However, the old provides an excellent approximation.

File New Loan Paperwork

Once you have gone over the legal papers, it’s time to file paperwork for the new loan. The new borrower needs to file for a new loan. This new document, if filed with the same lender, should look like the old one. There might be a few tweaks based on the income and credit of the borrower ready to take over car payments.

To make things simpler, the lender might have the new individual sign the old loan. Everything remains the same, including the terms and conditions.

Although this makes things simpler, your name is still on the loan. The new borrower adds their name by yours to take it over. If the new person can’t pay for something, you are responsible. Ensure you are ready for this co-sign. Not all lenders require this step, but it might become necessary if the lender wants to ensure they get paid.

Change the Title

Finally, it’s time to seal the deal. Wait for the auto loan to receive approval, and then you can transfer the title. The title is everything - it declares the owner of the vehicle, and thus, the individual responsible for the car and everything that comes with it. 

To transfer a title, trek to your local DMV. You need to bring a driver’s license or another proof of identity to switch the documents legally. You also need a bill of sale and, sometimes, auto insurance proof.

Conclusion

There are many reasons why a person would take over car payments. The original borrower might want to sell or trade the car or become unable to complete the payments on time. Whatever the reason, it might be possible to transfer the responsibility of car payments over to another individual. The steps listed above can make it happen.

We hope this information was helpful! There’s a lot to consider when transferring responsibility for payments. Ensure you’re ready for rejection, too - not every lender is prepared to switch over the ownership of payments. If you have a convincing case, you should be able to transfer it with ease. You can do it!



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