Your car can be repossessed if you have “defaulted” on any term in your contract. Most contracts state what triggers a default.
Your car can be repossessed anywhere, anytime, so long as the repossession company does not “breach the peace.” Examples of a breach of peace include physical force, a threat of force, and removing your car from a closed garage without your permission. If there is a breach of peace and any harm is done to you or your property, your lender may be required to pay a penalty and compensate you.
You are not entitled to notice of a repossession.
You have a right to obtain some of your personal property from your vehicle, even though your financial lender may charge you for towing, recovery, and storage. These items shall be released without charge by the creditor to the owner or operator of the motor vehicle or their duly authorized representative.
Pay the full amount that you owe (which usually includes your past due payments and the entire remaining debt) in addition to the expenses connected with the repossession, like storage, preparation for sale, and attorney’s fees.
You have a right to accounting without cost and once every six months for all the debt they allege you owe. The lender only has 14 days to respond to your request. If the lender fails to comply with this without reasonable cause, they may be required to pay a penalty, damages, and $500.
They may sell your car if you do not redeem it. Every aspect of the sale, including the method, manner, time, place, and other terms, must be commercially reasonable. If commercially reasonable, a secured party may dispose of collateral by public or private proceedings, by one or more contracts, as a unit or in parcels, at any time and place, and on any terms.
They must send you written notice prior to the sale stating:
a description the vehicle
that it is a sale
that you are entitled to an accounting of the unpaid indebtedness and any charge for an accounting
the time and place of a public disposition or the time after which another disposition is to be made
any liability for a deficiency
a telephone number to redeem collateral
a phone number or mailing address from which more information about the sale is available
