Is there a law that says I have to pay my loan off in full in order to get my car back?
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Is there a law that says I have to pay my loan off in full in order to get my car back?
Can I get my car back when it has become repoed without paying the full amount? payment? I want to pay just want is owed. Would filing bankruptcy help?
Asked on June 20, 2011 under Bankruptcy Law, North Carolina
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
First, unless the loan or financing agreement specifically allows you to cure the default and get your car back by paying the amount in full, you don't have an automatic right to do this; once you default and your car has been repossessed, the lender does not have to give you the right to redeem it, again, unless the agreement states they must. If it does, you'd have to pay whatever the agreement calls for. If they don't have to give you the right to redeem, you can certainly contact them, ask, and try to negotiate.
Second, while lender may choose to let you get your car back by lpaying less than the full amount owed, they do *not* have to do this. The financing agreement requires you to pay the full amount per the agreement; they don't have to accept anything less than that.
Bankruptcy will not help you get the car back. Once the car has been repossessed, bankruptcy does not undo repossession. It can help prevent you from having to also pay yet more money to the lender, such as if you are sued for any remaining balance after the car is sold at a repossession sale or auction.
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