Getting a car loan in Seattle can be tough when you have bad credit. All hope isn't lost though. There are a few ways you can help yourself get approved for the auto loan you need, including having a cosigner.

When it comes to getting approved for an auto loan, the ideal situation for most borrowers is to go it alone. However, borrowers with bad credit are sometimes required by a lender to have a cosigner or a co-borrower. They may sound similar, but each one plays a different role.

In order for someone to cosign on a car loan for you, they need to have good credit. The biggest reason for this is because you’re essentially “borrowing” their good credit score in order to get approved for an auto loan.

A joint auto loan is when a primary borrower shares a car loan with either a cosigner or a co-borrower. If you want to remove someone's name from a joint auto loan, you need to refinance the loan on your own.

You may need a cosigner to get approved for an auto loan if you have little or no credit. If you don't have a cosigner, you still have a few options you can explore to buy a car with no credit and no cosigner.

A co-buyer on an auto loan isn't the same as a cosigner. They sound similar, but their respective roles are very different. One can help you get approved for a car loan if you have bad credit, while the other can help you meet the income requirements.

Your cosigner doesn't have to live in the same state as you, they just have to be able to qualify to be a cosigner. However, keep in mind that some lenders may ask them to sign the loan contract in person.

Besides the basic requirements subprime lenders ask for, some may require you to have a cosigner or co-borrower in order to approve you for a bad credit auto loan.

If you have bad credit, you may be asked to get a cosigner on a car loan. A cosigner can’t be just anyone – they have to meet specific requirements and understand what it means to be one.

When someone asks you to be a cosigner for a car loan, they're asking you to help make up for their bad credit by cosigning for a vehicle. But what exactly does that mean, and what qualifies you to be a cosigner?