Legal Process For Repossessing a Vehicle

 Posted on June 26, 2017 in Auto Lenders

When a debtor fails to pay installments on a car loan, an auto lender may have no choice but to repossess the vehicle. Alternatives would be to refinance the loan or to allow the debtor to repay the money owed in a lump sum at a later date. However, the debtor must have a history of reliably making payments before the lender considers those options. Repossession is the surest way to recover money after the debtor defaults on a loan, though the lender may still not recover the entire loss. When repossessing a vehicle, you must follow a legal process that gives the debtor notice and a chance to repay you.

What Allows Repossession

Your right to repossess the vehicle should be clearly stated in the loan contract. Loan agreements typically include security interests, which are properties that can be used as collateral in case the debtor fails to pay the loan. In a contract for a vehicle payment plan, the vehicle is the security interest. When a debtor does not make a scheduled payment, he or she has violated the contract. The security interest identified in the contract will legally allow you to repossess the vehicle as collateral.

Repossession Process

Once you have decided to repossess a debtor’s vehicle, you must deliver a Notice of Redemption to the debtor that:

• Notifies the debtor of your intent to repossess;
• Identifies the reason for repossession;
• Declares whether you intend to resell the vehicle; and
• Informs the debtor of his or her legal rights.

If the vehicle is for personal use, the debtor must also receive an Affidavit of Defense. After the notices have been delivered, you can use a licensed repossession service to retrieve the vehicle. However, the debtor can put a temporary stop on repossession if he or she filed for bankruptcy protection before the repossession.

Selling the Vehicle

Illinois requires auto lenders to wait 21 days after sending out the Notice of Redemption before they can resell the vehicle. This gives the debtor a chance to:

• Redeem the value of the loan, in order to buy back the vehicle; or
• File an Affidavit of Defense to the Creditor, which sends the case to court.

If 21 days pass without the debtor taking action, you can submit an Affidavit of Repossession, which will permit you to reach a new agreement to sell the car.

Debt Collection

In some cases, the money that you receive from reselling the car will be less than what the previous debtor owed from the loan. A Chicago creditor’s rights attorney at Dimand Walinski Law Offices, P.C., can help you take legal action to retrieve the remaining debt from the debtor. To schedule an appointment, call 312-704-0771.

Source:

ftp://www.ilga.gov/JCAR/AdminCode/092/092010100B01600R.html