If you’re behind on your car payments, you may be worried about repossession. Once an auto lender has taken several measures to help you and you still don’t pay, they can repossess your car. If you are anticipating difficulty making payments or know that something is coming up that will make it difficult to pay, try hiding your car from repossession. Repossession is a long, complicated process filled with many checkpoints. By taking steps to hide your car before the repo company knows what you owe and while they are researching whether or not they want it, you increase the chances of keeping it longer. Here are ways to hide your car from repossession:
How To Hide Your Car From Repossession?
1. Change the License Plate
Your car’s license plate is an obvious way to identify the car, so changing the license plate is an obvious first step to hiding your car from repossession. A license plate scan is easy and quick, so if the repossession company is seeking information about your car, all they have to do is check for a license plate number. So, if you’re behind on payments, change the license plate number to something that is not associated with your account. Be sure that the new number doesn’t belong to another car, or you could be arrested for stealing that car. Also, be sure that you don’t use a number that is already associated with another car. Using the wrong number can land you in more trouble than repossession. If you’re caught with a stolen license plate, you could be charged with a felony.
2. Disguise the Vehicle’s Appearance
If you have time, you can go a step further and slightly modify the appearance of your car. You can do things like paint it a different color, add different rims, or even remove the exterior parts to make it appear to be a different car. This will slow down the repossession process, as the repossession company will have to spend extra time confirming that the car is yours. If the repossession company is in the process of repossessing your car and they show up with a paintbrush and bucket, they have caught on to your plan.
3. Store the Car at a Relative’s House
If you have a trusted relative who lives in a remote area, you can store your car there. Your car will be out of the repossession company’s view and out of their jurisdiction. If you are storing your car at a relative’s house, be sure that the relative can legally own a car. You can store your car in a friend’s garage, but be sure that the repossession company doesn’t know the car is registered in your name. If the repossession company comes to your friend’s house and your car is there, the repossession company will likely be able to find you without much of a hassle. They can repossess your car, then repossess your friend’s car. If you store your car at a relative’s house, the repossession company will have a harder time finding you. While they can still repossess your car, they have to first find it, then find you.
4. Transfer the Title to Someone Else
If you are behind on payments, you may be tempted to transfer the title to someone else to avoid repossession. If you transfer the title to a person you don’t know, you could be charged with fraud and arrested. If you are behind on payments, try transferring the title to a relative or someone you trust, who knows that you plan to pay the car off as soon as you can. If the title is in a different name but the car is registered to you, the repossession company can still repossess the car. You’ll have to pay off the loan to get your title back, and the repossession company can still come after you for the money you owe on the loan.
5. Don’t Use Your Car Much and Don’t Keep Track of it
If you don’t use your car often, it will be harder for the repossession company to find it. If the repossession company is seeking information about you, your car, and the loan you have on the car, they will likely come to your house. However, if you rarely use your car and you seldom keep track of it and its whereabouts, it will be much harder for the repossession company to find it. Fortunately, you can always rent a van if you urgently need a car and avoid using your own car. If you don’t keep track of your car, the repossession company has a harder time finding it, as well. If you don’t use your car and don’t keep track of it, the repossession company has an even harder time finding it.
Why You Should Hide Your Car From Repossession?
- When you buy a car on credit, you’re doing two things. The first is that you’re making a purchase. The second is that you’re entering into a contract with a lender. When you purchase a car on credit, you’re borrowing money from a lender and you’re expected to pay it back in a timely manner.
- If you miss payments, your credit score will go down. If you miss too many payments, your lender can repossess your car. Repossession not only damages your credit but also makes it nearly impossible to get credit in the future. If you’re able to keep up with your payments, you’ll build a solid credit history that will make it easier for you to get credit in the future.
- If a lender declares you in default, they have every right to show up at your door demanding to repossess your car. However, they aren’t going to walk into your house and haul away your car. Most lenders will take the path of least resistance. They’ll wait for you to drive the car out of your driveway and then follow you to a place where they can safely and quietly repossess the car.
- The process is quick and quiet unless you resist. The only time you’ll have any interaction with a repossession agent is if you go out of your way to meet them. If you’re worried about repossession, you can avoid the car being taken away. You can park your car somewhere where it won’t be easily seen by a repossession agent.
Tips On How To Hide Your Car From Repossession
Store the Car at a Relative’s House
If you have a trusted relative who lives in a remote area, you can store your car there. Your car will be out of the repossession company’s view and out of their jurisdiction. If you are storing your car at a relative’s house, be sure that the relative can legally own a car. You can store your car in a friend’s garage, but be sure that the repossession company doesn’t know the car is registered in your name. If the repossession company comes to your friend’s house and your car is there, the repossession company will likely be able to find you without much of a hassle. They can repossess your car, then repossess your friend’s car. If you store your car at a relative’s house, the repossession company will have a harder time finding you. While they can still repossess your car, they have to first find it, then find you.
Don’t Use Your Car Much and Don’t Keep Track of it
If you don’t use your car often, it will be harder for the repossession company to find it. If the repossession company is seeking information about you, your car, and the loan you have on the car, they will likely come to your house. However, if you rarely use your car and you seldom keep track of it and its whereabouts, it will be much harder for the repossession company to find it. If you don’t keep track of your car, the repossession company has a harder time finding it, as well. If you don’t use your car and don’t keep track of it, the repossession company has an even harder time finding it.
Conclusion
The first rule of hiding your car from repossession is to never let the repossession company know that you are behind on payments. You don’t want them to know because they will come to repossess your car. If you are behind on payments, you will want to be sneaky and confident when hiding your car from repossession. It’s a long, complicated process where you have many opportunities to get caught. You want to be careful, so that you don’t get caught early in the process and before you have a chance to hide your car from repossession.
