What Happens If My Vehicle Is Repossessed

The laws covering repossession in the State of Texas are very straightforward. A registered lender can repossess your vehicle if you take out a title loan and fall behind on the loan payments. That means you could face a repossession just days after you miss your monthly payment, and the lender doesn’t even need to go to court to take the car or give you notice officially. Now that we’ve covered the heavy stuff let’s get into what happens in most situations when you fall behind on title loan payments and what you can do to avoid this from happening.

 

Why Would A Lender Not Want To Repossess Your Car

In nearly every situation, your lender will want to avoid a title loan repossession and will work with you to get back on track with the payments. Repossession costs money, and they would rather not have to deal with an expensive repossession. Excess costs add to their losses when they start the repo process, and it’s in their best interest to get you back to making payments. Besides that, they make their money off the high-interest rates you pay each month. Talk to any legitimate company that offers title loans near me in Texas. Most will confirm they don’t want to deal with repossession and would rather have a situation where you make on-time monthly payments.

 

Protect Yourself From A Repossession in Texas

It is vital for anyone who wants to take out an online title loan in Texas to go to a licensed loan agency or a company that the Texas Banking Department regulates. Companies like these will all be monitored for compliance and strictly follow the Texas title lending regulations for 2023. You can find state-regulated title loan agencies using the state’s lender database or online search. Make sure you deal with reputable agencies fully licensed to operate within Texas.

Not all companies involved in a title loan operation are equal regarding how strict they are on regulations and lending terms. When looking for a reputable loan agency, you will want to ensure they have a high volume of transactions and read their certified online reviews. Take note of companies with multiple complaints involving situations where they repossessed a vehicle. You’ll want a reputable title loan agency with a positive customer satisfaction record.

 

A tow truck repossessing a car.

 

How To Avoid A Title Loan Repossession

The first step is knowing the current title loan repossession laws and using that information to avoid losing your vehicle. This is easier said than done because the rules and restrictions constantly change, and each state has different statutes regulating licensed finance lenders. Most companies will offer you a title loan according to the information you provide on a credit application. Do what you can to repay the loan quickly, as a lending agency will usually not ask for extra money. They’re getting paid monthly with high APR payments and are happy to see the loan through.

If possible, try to pay off the loan early in one lump sum, and contact customer service to see if you can renegotiate the payment terms. Consider a refinance or title loan buyout of the existing loan to get a fresh start and new financing terms for your loan.

Immediately contact your loan rep if there’s a chance of falling behind on the payments. Most local title lenders will want to work with you to keep the payments current, and they will likely try to work out a payment plan or lower the amount owed for specific months if you’re facing financial hardship.