Repossession happens when a lender takes back a car because the borrower has fallen behind on payments. Repo agents use personal details, social media, and tools like GPS trackers and license plate scanners to find vehicles.
You can also use websites like Carfax, Auto Trader, Buy It Now, eBay and CarsDirect. All these websites provide information about repossessed cars.
Although court judgments no longer appear on credit reports or factor into credit scores, they're still part of the public record. If a lender looks up your public records, this could make it harder to qualify for future loans.
What Happens If the Repo Agent Doesn't Find Your Car? But if you make it hard for the repo agent to get it, then the creditor may use another method to get the car back, called "replevin." Replevin can be just as costly as a repossession, if not more so.
Dear Borrower Name: You are hereby notified that your description of motor vehicle, year, make, model and VIN #, was lawfully repossessed on Date because you defaulted on your loan with Credit Union Name. The vehicle is being held at location address of vehicle. be sold at public sale.
How to perform a voluntary repossession of your vehicle Proactively inform your lender that you are unable to maintain making timely, monthly payments. Work with the lender to arrange a time and place for dropping the vehicle off.
Debt collectors cannot repossess your possessions if the debt is unsecured, such as a credit card or student loan. In the case of secured debt, however, particularly auto loans, for which the car is collateral, failure to make payments can result in repossession of the vehicle.
A repossession affidavit is a legal statement filed with the Department of Motor Vehicles when you repossess a car from a customer. This document provides details about the repossession such as why and how the vehicle was repossessed. It also informs government authorities that the vehicle has been repossessed.
Initiate a formal dispute with all necessary credit reporting agencies (CRAs) that issued the report containing the repossession. You can dispute a repossession online with all three credit reporting agencies, and this is the most efficient way to pursue removal: Experian. Equifax.
Start the letter by identifying yourself and the property. The lender will need to identify your loan, so include an account number. Give them your name, address and contact information. Tell the lender that you are voluntarily giving the item back because you can no longer make the payments.