My car has been repossessed, can I get it back?

If you purchased your car in California, the answer generally is “yes.” You will have the right to “reinstate” your contract by paying your past due payments other delinquency charges (e.g., repossession fees), or you can “redeem” the vehicle by paying the entire balance due on your account. You always have the right to redeem. There are limited exceptions where your finance company or lender can deny the right of reinstatement. There also is no right to reinstate if you received a direct loan from a credit union to purchase the car, or if you refinanced with a credit union.

If you leased a car, you do not have the legal right to get your car back. The leasing company may give it to you, but you cannot insist on it. You can learn more about the repossession or surrender of leased cars here.

The laws involved in any repossession are rather complex and a consumer’s rights often depends on the nature of the transaction and history of the consumer’s account. It is best to have a qualified attorney review your situation to determine your rights.