Do You Still Have To Pay After Voluntary Repo?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

, , , ,

You’ll be responsible for paying any balance after the sale, along with any fees, like late-payment or prepayment fees. If you aren’t able to pay, your account could be turned over to a collection agency, which would show up in your credit history.

Is a voluntary surrender better than a repossession?

Voluntarily surrendering your vehicle

may be slightly better than having it repossessed

. Unfortunately, both are very negative and will have a serious impact on your credit scores.

What happens with a voluntary repo?

In a voluntary repossession,

you return your vehicle to your lender when you are unable to make payments

. You inform your lender you will not make payments going forward and that you want to surrender the car. Then, you schedule a time and place where you bring the vehicle (and a ride home), and you turn over the keys.

What happens if you don’t pay the deficiency balance?

If you refuse to pay,

the debt will most likely be sold to collections

. But either the lender or the collector can choose to file a lawsuit against you, which could result in a wage garnishment, a levy against your bank account or a lien against your other property.

Should I pay off a repossession?


Paying off a repossession can help your credit score since it reduces debt owed

, and you may be able to get the item removed from your credit report. However, the significance of impact on your score depends on your credit history and profile and whether you take a settlement.

Does a voluntary repossession affect credit?

The simple answer is

yes, a voluntary repossession affects your credit score

. Even if a borrower does give up their vehicle voluntarily, their credit score still takes a hit.

How long does a voluntary repossession stay on your credit?

Voluntary surrender and repossession are both loan defaults, which stay on your credit reports for

seven years

. That type of negative mark will harm your scores, especially your automotive-specific credit scores. Next time you apply for a car loan, you’ll likely be deemed high risk and charged very high interest.

How many points does a voluntary repossession affect your credit?

How Many Points Does A Voluntary Repossession Affect Your Credit? A voluntary repossession will likely drop your credit score by

100 points

due to late payments. Repos stay on your credit report for 7 years, severely impacts your credit score & affecting your ability to qualify for loans.

Does surrendering a car hurt your credit?


Voluntarily surrendering your vehicle will have a substantially negative impact on your credit scores

because it means that you did not fulfill the original loan agreement. When you voluntarily surrender your vehicle, the lender will sell the car to recover as much of the money owed as possible.

How do I get out of a car loan I can’t afford?

  1. Consider Selling the Car. Getting rid of your mode of transportation isn’t ideal, but if you can’t stick to your repayment schedule, you may lose the vehicle anyway. …
  2. Negotiate With Your Lender. …
  3. Refinance Your Auto Loan. …
  4. Voluntarily Surrender the Vehicle.

How do I return a car I can’t afford?


Ask for a Voluntary Repossession

If you simply can’t afford your car payments any longer, you could ask the dealer to agree to voluntary repossession. In this scenario, you tell the lender you can no longer make payments ask them to take the car back.

How can I remove a voluntary repossession?

  1. Dispute the repossession with a credit bureau. You dispute a negative item on your credit report as you would a credit card charge. …
  2. Follow up with all the credit bureaus. …
  3. Contact the lender. …
  4. Hire a credit repair professional.

Do I have to pay the deficiency balance?

Once it’s sold, the lender takes the profit from the sale and puts it toward the remaining balance of your car loan. But

if that loan balance is more than what the sale yields, it becomes a deficiency balance, and you’re responsible for paying it.

Can you settle a deficiency balance?


You can settle the debt on your own, but an attorney may save you money by using her experience to negotiate a better deal than you would reach

. Settlement allows for debtors to resolve debts for less than the full balance, but there is no exact standard for what lenders will accept on a deficiency balance.

Can my car be repossessed if I make partial payments?

Myth #2 – If I make a partial payment to the car finance company they do not have a right to repossess my vehicle. Truth – Partial payment on your car note is not full payment. Therefore the unpaid portion is considered late.

The lender still has a right to repossess the vehicle for non-payment

.

How many months can you be behind on your car payment?

Typically, most lenders wait until you are about

3 months

behind on car payments. Although you can be considered in default after 30 days, lenders may wait 90-120 days before taking action. In addition to an added sense of uncertainty, repossessions also leave a negative mark on your credit history.

How can I fix my credit after a repossession?

  1. Bring other past-due accounts current. …
  2. Pay off any outstanding debts, such as collections or charge-offs. …
  3. Make payments on time going forward. …
  4. Sign up for Experian BoostTM



    . …
  5. Order your Experian credit score.

Can you negotiate after repossession?

Ideally, you should start these negotiations before the repossession process.

If you negotiate after repossession, however, you may be able to use any questionable actions by the lender during that process to help bolster your bargaining position

.

Should I give up my car?

Even if the creditor won’t cut you a break on the deficiency balance,

surrendering the car might still be the best thing you could do under the circumstances

. It could save you the extra costs and fees of a repossession, which the creditor can add to the deficiency balance you might owe later.

Can I give my car back to the finance company?


You can return it, but you’ll probably have to pay back any remaining money you owe on the contract

, so if you still have a year left, then the lender will expect a year’s worth of fees up front. In this instance, it’s better to contact the finance company and see what else you can arrange.

Ahmed Ali
Author
Ahmed Ali
Ahmed Ali is a financial analyst with over 15 years of experience in the finance industry. He has worked for major banks and investment firms, and has a wealth of knowledge on investing, real estate, and tax planning. Ahmed is also an advocate for financial literacy and education.