What does a co-signer do on a car loan?

A co-signer agrees to repay the loan if the primary borrower doesn't, which can help someone with limited or weak credit get approved or get a better rate. The loan typically appears on both people's credit reports, and late payments hurt both. A co-signer usually has no ownership rights unless also listed on the title, unlike a co-borrower. The FTC and CFPB both advise co-signers to be sure they could afford the payments themselves.