{"id":2722,"date":"2022-04-28T09:45:18","date_gmt":"2022-04-28T13:45:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.consumerslaw.com\/blog\/?p=2722"},"modified":"2022-04-28T09:45:18","modified_gmt":"2022-04-28T13:45:18","slug":"how-to-locate-your-car-after-repossession","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.consumerslaw.com\/blog\/how-to-locate-your-car-after-repossession\/","title":{"rendered":"How to locate your car after repossession?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Lenders are not required to notify the borrower in advance of an auto repossession.\u00a0 However, after a vehicle has been taken, the lender must send a letter to the borrower outlining terms to get the vehicle back — whether the lender is a bank, such as Well Fargo or Bank of America, a credit union, such as Pennsylvania State Employees Credit Union or Erie Federal Credit Union, or a financial institution such as Driveway Finance or PA Auto Credit. The repossession letter, often called a Notice of Intent to Sell Property, <\/span>details the location of the vehicle and where personal property may be picked up, the amount to be paid to retrieve the vehicle, and the time period in which the borrower must act before the vehicle is sent to an auction or private sale to be sold.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s face it.\u00a0 Car repossessions never occur at convenient times. A variety of reasons may have caused default on the loan. The borrower may be suffering an illness or from a death in the family, be going through divorce, or had a job loss. Regardless, once the vehicle has been taken, the borrower must take steps to locate it and find out how to get it back. As well, the lender must follow the law<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Role of the Repo Agent<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\"\"After the lender has made the decision to repossess a vehicle, arrangements are made with a repo agent who will locate the vehicle and take it, often without warning<\/em>.\u00a0 In advance of the repossession, the repo agent must inform the local police department of their intent to seize the vehicle.\u00a0 The repo agent may come with a tow truck to the borrower\u2019s home or place of employment. Or, they may track the vehicle \"\"finding it at another location, such as at a shopping mall, doctor\u2019s office, or the address of a family member or friend. Sometimes at the time of purchase, the dealership may have installed a GPS tracking device or a remote control car disabler. \u00a0The repo agent may use these devices to track vehicles that have been assigned for repossession.<\/p>\n

\"\"In Pennsylvania, a repossession agent has to be licensed with the Department of Banking and Securities of the Commonwealth and may be hired by a bank, credit union or finance company to repossess cars, trucks motorcycles, RVs, powersport vehicles, boats or airplanes. If a vehicle is missing, the borrower should make calls to the local police and the lender to confirm it was not stolen.<\/p>\n

Wrongful Repossession by the Repo Agent<\/strong><\/h3>\n