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How do they repo a car without keys?
My friend’s car got repoed a few days ago, and we wondered how they took it. How does the repo person get a key to your car?
Joshua Levy · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
A car can be repossessed without keys by towing it—all they need to do is lift your vehicle onto a flatbed tow truck.
Cars aren’t typically repossessed without reason. Generally speaking, the most common cause a lender may repo your vehicle is if there has been a long period of nonpayment.
If you default on your
car loan
payments, your lender may decide to take action to reclaim the vehicle. While a single missed payment may not result in a repo, multiple can—but most lenders work on a priority basis, going after second and third-time defaulters before first-timers.When a lender decides they will repossess your vehicle, your only option to avoid it is to negotiate a plan to get back up to date on your payments or pay off the remaining balance in full.
The duration between defaulting on a payment and a repossession can take days or months, depending on where you stand with your lender. But once a repossession order goes into effect, you may not be given notice. Most repo agents will have a duplicate key, but they can also take the car using a tow truck or pick the lock and hotwiring the engine. In some states, notices aren’t required before a vehicle is repossessed.
If you want to avoid having your car repossessed, here are some things to keep in mind:
- Keep in touch with your lender about your situation
- Request a loan modification
- Get current with your loan
- Sell your car
- Surrender your car
Generally, it’s best to
keep up with your loan payments
and communicate with your lender if you fall behind. This will spare your car from being repossessed and spare your credit score from tanking.View full answer
- Gregory R.
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Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.
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