While you can temporarily hide a vehicle from a repo man, it is rarely successful long-term and often triggers severe financial and legal consequences, including court-ordered repossession (replevin), additional fees, and potential criminal charges. Repo agents use advanced technology to track vehicles, making evasion difficult.
The lender may take legal action.
If the repo agent can't locate your car, the lender might file a replevin lawsuit to get a court order forcing you to turn it over. Ignoring a court order could lead to fines or other legal consequences.
Can a Repo Man follow you around? Yes, repo agents are allowed to monitor your movements in public places as part of the repossession process. They may wait near your home, workplace, or other common locations until they can legally get to your vehicle without causing a breach of the peace.
Ask For A Car Loan Modification – If you can see that you're having trouble paying your car loan avoid a future repossession by asking for a modification of your car loan before you fall behind on payments.
Hiding your vehicle could make things worse
Locking your vehicle in a garage won't work either. The repossession company can get a court order for you to open it, and if you refuse, they can bring the police to force it open.
Typically, recovery companies attempt to find your car for up to 30 days. In some cases, lenders can start the repossession process as soon as one day after a missed payment. You should also be aware that many lenders don't give you notice of when or where they're going to repo the vehicle.
The best way to avoid the repo man is to stop the repossession process before it starts. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the first step you should take to avoid a car repossession is to contact your lender or whatever service you use to make your car payments.
The repo guys will inform the police (so that people can know their car was repossessed not stolen). You also can't necessarily just wash your hands of it. If the car goes to auction and the bank doesn't recover all its money, it will come after you for the remainder.
Repossession law prohibits a repo man from committing a “breach of the peace” during the repossession process. Breaching the peace during an auto loan repossession can include using physical force or threats of force and breaking into locked buildings. All laws on repossessing cars prohibit breaches of the peace.
Repossession happens when a lender takes back a car because the borrower has fallen behind on payments. Repo agents use personal details, social media, and tools like GPS trackers and license plate scanners to find vehicles.
You may be able to pay to delete a repo. Contact your lender to see if they're willing to negotiate payments on what you owe. If they agree to a pay-to-delete and you pay the agreed amount in full, they'll request that the credit bureau(s) remove the repo from your credit report.
This is a civil matter, not a criminal one. You won't go to prison for missing your car payments or for trying peacefully to stop the repossession. In some states, the repo agent can bring an officer or sheriff along for the repossession.
If you weren't notified that the lender or leasing company was planning to repossess your vehicle, they'll most likely return the car to you if you pay the outstanding balance and repossession fees. If you were made aware of the impending repossession via phone conversation or written notice, it may be more difficult.
The repo agent will follow you as you drive away. Once you stop and run in the store or into work, they'll pick it up and tow it way. It's not unheard of for repo agents to travel up and down the streets within a few blocks of your home or job looking for your vehicle.
Negotiate with the Lender:
After repossession, a consumer may have the option to redeem the vehicle before it is sold by paying the entire outstanding balance of the car loan, including interest, costs, and fees.