A claim up to $8,000 – not including costs, interest and attorneys' fees – can be filed with the Clerk's Office as a Small Claims action, ing to Rule 7.010 of the Florida Rules of Court and Chapter 34 of the Florida Statutes. A deputy clerk may be able to assist you with the filing of a small claims suit.
A losing party pays attorney fees only if the winner is specifically given the right to recover legal fees in a contract between the parties or through a state or federal law. Learn about preparing a defense in Disputing a Small Claims Court Case: Fight Back.
Once your debtor is in default, you can repossess the car at any time without prior notice and you can even go onto the debtor's property to seize the car. That being said, you are not allowed to seize a vehicle by using physical violence or threats of force.
Conclusion: Going to small claims court may be worth it for $500, but it will determine how you weigh your costs versus benefits. At a minimum, it is worth it to send a demand letter.