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Is it illegal to remove the kill switch from a leased car?
I don’t like the idea of my vehicle having a kill switch. Feels invasive. Is it illegal to remove the kill switch from a leased car?
Nick Kunze · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
It is not illegal to remove a kill switch from a leased car but it is a violation of your leasing agreement. It may be considered criminal destruction of property, but is not a crime in its own right.
A kill switch is a device that stops your car from working, often by disconnecting the connection to the battery. While car owners can install kill switches as anti-theft devices, they are also employed by car lenders as an alternative to hiring a repo man after a lack of payment.
Some car lenders have installed GPS-enabled kill switches within their cars. If the borrower is not making payments, the lender can shut the car off remotely, stopping it from working. This is to prevent theft or lack of payment for lenders.
Only five of 50 states have any regulations regarding kill switches, although the only regulation is that the lender must inform the renter of the kill switch. Everywhere else, there are no rules regarding the kill switch.
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