Advice on Borrower Liability after Vehicle Repossession

When a vehicle is repossessed (through a voluntary surrender or otherwise), the lender will usually sell the vehicle at auction, and then apply the money received at auction to the balance owed on your auto loan. If the lender receives less money at the auction then you still owe on the vehicle (as often the case). The difference is called a deficiency balance. Generally speaking, you would be liable to the creditor for the deficiency balance, which means you will probably still owe money to the creditor even though you no longer have the vehicle. The creditor may be willing to negotiate a repayment plan or lump-sum settlement with you to repay the deficiency, but if you fail to make arrangements with the creditor, the creditor could sue you to obtain a judgment against you, which could result in wage garnishment, a lien on your property, and/or bank levies, depending on the laws in your state.

Because deficiency balances on automobile loans can cause a significant financial hardship and have a strong negative impact on your credit score, you should work diligently to prevent the vehicle from being repossessed, if at all possible.

Keep in mind that most lenders do not want your car, they want the money, so first contact your creditor to discuss payment options, such as deferral of payments. If the lender will not work with you, you may want to look for ways to borrow the money needed or, if possible, to refinance the loan. (Most lenders won't refinance their own auto loans, so don't be discouraged by your original lender's refusal to do so. Typically auto-refinancing is done through a different lender, using the new loan to pay off the original loan.)

If you cannot borrow the money to repay your missed payments, or if you cannot afford to continue making your regular monthly payments, you may have no choice but to allow the car to be repossessed. In that case, you should contact an attorney to discuss the laws in your state regarding the collection of deficiency balances, and what options are available to you to resolve the debt.

Finally, you can visit the bills.com Auto Loans Information page and Refinance Car Loans page for more information on auto loans and refinancing. You can also used the site's Saving Center tool to apply for a free loan quote from a pre-approve lender.

I wish you the best of luck in resolving this financially difficult situation, and hope that the information I have provided helps you Find. Learn. Save.

Best,

Bill

www.bills.com