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County of Los Angeles |
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Vehicle Repossessions
How to get your car back
If you get behind on your car payments or don’t have auto insurance, the loan company can take your car. This is called vehicle repossession.
If your car is repossessed, you must act quickly to get it back.
What can I do if I am behind on my payments?
If you are having trouble making your monthly car payment:
- Talk to your loan company and work out a new payment plan.
- Try to get a new loan with lower payments from another loan company.
- Sell the car. You’ll get more money selling it yourself than letting the loan company take the car and sell it at an auction.
Do they have to tell me they are going to take my car?
No. The loan company does not have to tell you in advance that they are going to take your car.
How do I get my car back?
To get your car back, you have to make up all the back payments. You also have to pay repossession and storage fees. You must prove that you have current insurance and a valid drivers license.
Can they refuse to return my car?
The loan company can refuse to return your car if you did any of the following:
- Lied on your credit application;
- Hid the car to avoid repossession, or threatened the repossessor; or
- Trashed the car, threatened to destroy it, or used it to commit a crime.
The loan company can also refuse to return your car if:
- This is the second time your car has been repossessed in the last 12 months, or
- This is the third repossession since you bought it.
What notices should I receive?
At least 15 days before your car is sold, the loan company must send you a document called Notice of Intent to Sell Vehicle with this information:
- That they will sell your car after 15 days from the date they mailed or gave you notice.
- How much you have to pay to get your car back before they sell it. If the notice says you have to pay in full, it has to tell you why.
- Where to make payment and pick up the car.
- That you have the right to delay the sale of your car for 10 days if you make a written request. The notice must have a form you can fill out and send back to request the extension.
- That you will owe them money if the car sells for less than the total amount due.
If you don’t take action and your car is sold, you have the right to ask your loan company in writing, how much they sold the car for, and how much it cost them to sell it.
How do I get back the things I left in the car?
Within 48 hours from the time they take your car, the repossession company must send you a list of the things in your car and tell you how to get them back. If you do not pick them up within 60 days, they can get rid of them.
What else can I do?
Call us as soon as possible. Sometimes we can help lower the amount due or arrange extensions.
Contact us for more information or speak with one of our counselors at (800) 593-8222. If you live outside of Southern California, call us at (213) 974-1452.
Updated March 1, 2008
For more information:
County of Los Angeles Department of Consumer Affairs
B-96 Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration
500 W. Temple Street *
Los Angeles, CA 90012-2706
Telephone (800) 593-8222 (within LA County)
web site: dca.lacounty.gov