How to keep the car when an auto loan is charged off

Submitted by justin.oscar on Wed, 06/03/2009 - 07:48
Forums

Your car loan is charged off when you have been delinquent on your account for 180 days. The lender writes off this debt as a loss, as they realize that the debt won't be paid. An auto loan charge-off is a negative mark on your credit report and it hurts your credit score. A loan charge-off does not mean that the loan has been forgiven, and you are still obligated to pay the debt. The interest and late payments will continue to accrue. Generally a charged off debt is handed over to a collection agency.

Can you keep the car after charge-off?

You can keep your car after the charge-off only if you pay off the debt. The lender won't release the lien on the car until the loan is repaid. The car can be repossessed if you do not pay off the debt. Even if the lender does not seize the car, you won't be able to sell it or refinance it. Moreover, you are still liable to pay off the debt even though you have lost your car.

However, repossession laws differ according to the state you live in. Thus, you need to know your state law regarding car repossession. Some states allow the lender to seize your car without notice at any time after you fail to make the payments on your car loan. But, most of the states have a breach of peace regulations on car repossession. If the individuals repossessing your car commit a breach of the peace while seizing your car, your lender may have to pay a penalty and the repossession may be temporarily halted.

How to handle an auto loan charge-off

If you want to keep your car and remove the charge-off from your credit report, you will have to negotiate a payment plan with your lender. Make sure you get the payment agreement in writing. Once you pay off the debt, you may get the car back. As for the charge-off, you will have to negotiate a Pay for delete Agreement (PFD) with your lender to remove the charge-off from your credit report. A charge-off will be considered a negative listing on your credit report, which will cause creditors and lenders to deny you credit. Therefore, it is better to try and remove the charge-off with a PFD if the lender will agree.

The best way to prevent your car from being repossessed is to repay the loan. There are several options, like a loan modification agreement, available to consumers who wish to keep their vehicles.

Natasha (not verified)

Car charged off then repossessed paid current recieved car back was a day late the repossessed car again

Fri, 09/27/2019 - 11:05 Permalink
Brice P (not verified)

So the bank charged off the car loan. I filled a BK the bank has not came for the car its been a year and a half?

Fri, 10/04/2019 - 02:44 Permalink
Heather Brown (not verified)

My motorcycle was never repossessed but ended up being charged off and the debt was bought by another party. I’ve negotiated a lump sum deal, with my family member paying off less than what was owed on it. I still have the motorcycle and the debt collector says the lien will be removed once the lump sum payment has cleared. Does that mean I can sell the motorcycle after the lien is removed?

Sat, 10/05/2019 - 06:09 Permalink
Heather Brown (not verified)

My motorcycle was never repossessed but ended up being charged off and the debt was bought by another party. I’ve negotiated a lump sum deal, with my family member paying off less than what was owed on it. I still have the motorcycle and the debt collector says the lien will be removed once the lump sum payment has cleared. Does that mean I can sell the motorcycle after the lien is removed?

Sat, 10/05/2019 - 06:09 Permalink
Heather Brown (not verified)

My motorcycle was never repossessed but ended up being charged off and the debt was bought by another party. I’ve negotiated a lump sum deal, with my family member paying off less than what was owed on it. I still have the motorcycle and the debt collector says the lien will be removed once the lump sum payment has cleared. Does that mean I can sell the motorcycle after the lien is removed?

Sat, 10/05/2019 - 06:09 Permalink
Anonymous (not verified)

Is therw any way to keep your car once its been charged off without paying the entire loan

Thu, 10/10/2019 - 23:28 Permalink
James Mcneil (not verified)

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Fri, 10/11/2019 - 20:30 Permalink
Julie Davis (not verified)

I have a charge off my account and had no idea they stopped debiting the payment from my checking account. When I got a call from repossession company I was shocked. I contacted Bethpage Federal Credit Union. Spent 8 hours on the phone with them and they want me to pay full amount. Trying to pay full amount and getting a car loan for value of the car is hard when they have it listed as a loss on credit report. I asked if they could remove it for 7 business days so a loan could be approved. I asked to give them 10,000 in cash or money order. They are not working with me. Please help.

Julie Davis
845-558-8705

Tue, 10/15/2019 - 20:37 Permalink
Jasmine Ambrose (not verified)

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Tue, 10/15/2019 - 21:14 Permalink
Jane (not verified)

The auto loan has been charged off, but no collection agency has contacted me. And I sent the original lender information of where to pick up the car. They have not done so.

Thu, 10/17/2019 - 03:09 Permalink
Ajai (not verified)

Paid off agreement Made with Bank but still have balance the have it as paid off charge off balance but i still pay to finish full balance owed. Should i still pay or is it settled

Sat, 10/19/2019 - 10:30 Permalink
Megan b (not verified)

My car was charged off last year, did not receive any statements . Now they are coming to repossess the car without any prior notice

Thu, 10/24/2019 - 04:23 Permalink
Jenn (not verified)

I recently had brain and Spine Surgery and I couldn't make my car payments for awhile and they charged my car off can I still get be able to keep Vehicle if I start making on time payments this is in Indiana???

Tue, 10/29/2019 - 20:05 Permalink
Doris Mejia (not verified)

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Tue, 10/29/2019 - 22:58 Permalink
Kwmendez (not verified)

My auto loan is charged off against my credit can I have the vehicle if I file bankruptcy

Sat, 11/09/2019 - 19:09 Permalink
kea (not verified)

The car place went out if business . I was unable to pay the car off the car place went out of business . I was told that the car was charged off and that I had to pay the car off to get the title is that correct

Mon, 11/11/2019 - 20:55 Permalink
Terri Ortega (not verified)

If my loan has been charged off and someone hit my car and they are liable for damages , The insurance company still has to pay me for damages right ?

Tue, 11/12/2019 - 14:46 Permalink
Timothy (not verified)

My registration was suspended due to canceling my insurance when I was not in possesion of my vehicle. However, now I am and would like to register it. but the loan has been charged off and I dont have the title. how can I register it? I believe you need the title to register it correct?

Fri, 11/15/2019 - 07:23 Permalink
Timothy (not verified)

My registration was suspended due to canceling my insurance when I was not in possesion of my vehicle. However, now I am and would like to register it. but the loan has been charged off and I dont have the title. how can I register it? I believe you need the title to register it correct?

Fri, 11/15/2019 - 07:24 Permalink
Anonymous (not verified)

Car was repossessed have to pay back 5,000.00 of Liam pay off. I have no money but want to keep the car. Is this possible and how? Can I appt for a credit card and have car loan bal transferred over ?

Mon, 11/18/2019 - 00:28 Permalink
Yunshi (not verified)

Hello ,closed account charge off already if I can keep my car til can paid debt owe? But repo will take my car anytime but I still keep my car til I pay debt?

Mon, 11/25/2019 - 21:31 Permalink
Graham Bell (not verified)

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Tue, 11/26/2019 - 11:17 Permalink
Graham Bell (not verified)

I had my credit reports fixed and score boost from 499 to 766 by one of the best underground hackers “TROVIAN CREDIT REPAIR”. I really don't know if it’s right to post this but they literally saved me and there are others out there like me who need help. Reach out to them on Email: TROVIANCREDITREPAIR@GMAIL.COM or call: +1 505 926 3648. They offer a long list of other hacking services like website hack, all social media hack, erasing bad records, phone cloning, GPS tracking, university database hack and grade change, retrieval of lost funds and documents, bank database infiltration, sales of blank ATM cards for universal withdrawal and many other services. I can't mention even half of it.

Tue, 11/26/2019 - 11:17 Permalink
Graham Bell (not verified)

I had my credit reports fixed and score boost from 499 to 766 by one of the best underground hackers “TROVIAN CREDIT REPAIR”. I really don't know if it’s right to post this but they literally saved me and there are others out there like me who need help. Reach out to them on Email: TROVIANCREDITREPAIR@GMAIL.COM or call: +1 505 926 3648. They offer a long list of other hacking services like website hack, all social media hack, erasing bad records, phone cloning, GPS tracking, university database hack and grade change, retrieval of lost funds and documents, bank database infiltration, sales of blank ATM cards for universal withdrawal and many other services. I can't mention even half of it.

Tue, 11/26/2019 - 11:17 Permalink
Mariej7890 (not verified)

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Tue, 11/26/2019 - 22:44 Permalink
Sara Loyd (not verified)

My account is 123 days behind do to unemployed. I have help to pay all the late fees and missed payments and bring it current will they tell me i.have to pay them the whole 18,000 loan to keep my car

Fri, 11/29/2019 - 19:36 Permalink
James Letalu (not verified)

Okay vehicle that I have was charged off but I have the vehicle so I was wondering if I filed bankruptcy will that wipe out my debt for the vehicle and the vehicle becomes Minds

Fri, 11/29/2019 - 19:42 Permalink
Nyisha Stewart (not verified)

Hi my vehicle was just charged off and I’m trying to find out how I can go about getting the charge off reversed. I really would like to keep the car

Sat, 11/30/2019 - 22:31 Permalink
marytracy82@gm… (not verified)

My vehicle has a $3000 balance that was charged off on car loan after 7 year loan time finished in NYS?

Sun, 12/01/2019 - 19:32 Permalink
Lady Delaware (not verified)

After my husbands death our car went into collections. I am trying to register the car (Toyota Camry 2010) in California. They have asked for a copy of the Title and a letter stating that it is ok to register the car in my name only. Wel...l TMC says the account is closed so they can not help but referred me to Global Radius which is the collection agency where I am making payments until paid off. They won't release title or help unless car is paid off! Don't know what to do!???

Fri, 12/06/2019 - 00:27 Permalink
Tannerb12 (not verified)

I had an auto loan that was charged off and written off as profit and loss. That was maybe 2 years ago. I still have the vehicle and the certificate of title. Can I sell the vehicle?

Fri, 12/06/2019 - 00:52 Permalink
Cougar1973 (not verified)

I told the company to come get the car in 2015 I could not pay for it and I call them again in febuary of 2018 and they claim they have no account for this car it been 4 years the car is still not been pick-up so what do I need to do I no I been on ssid for a few years now

Tue, 12/10/2019 - 19:02 Permalink
npbenbetova@gm… (not verified)

Dear Carol,thank you so much for giving your time and knowledge to us, it is so good that still there are people who can answer you question without asking money. It is good karma.
My son did not paid his car loan and the loan was charged off, we did not know about it until now. He lost his job, they have a second baby, wife cannot work, huge medical bills, student loans,finally he found a job and started to pay them, but they say its too late.My husband was a cosigner. You said in your previous letter about loan modification. Who can modify? the lender? They said that they can do it if we would pay it in 3 mo $4000.00 per mo. It is totally unrealistic. They gave us 7 days to pay them total. This is Christmas, lots of people on vacation, all of us are working, is any legal way to extend the time to get the money to repay what else could be done? Grateful mom.

Mon, 12/16/2019 - 11:38 Permalink
KurtAdams (not verified)

Found out my vehicle was in repossession (I set up auto payments, and I didn't know I had missed a couple prior to learning about the repo), and I offered to pay to catch up. Lender wouldn't accept payment, because they demanded the upcoming payment, not yet due, to be included in the catch-up payment. The car remained in repo status. Two months later I tried offering, again, to pay the amount DUE, and catch-up, then I could worry about next month's payment when due. They refused again. Car went into charge-off. I asked flat out: "Are you seriously not willing to work with me at all?" She said: "Nope." Did Lender breech contract by refusing payment offers twice?

Tue, 12/31/2019 - 17:14 Permalink
Alfonso Cedeno (not verified)

My car has been in the shop for like 3 months three months of those six months and I do not pay a lien was put on it by the shop for $2,500 they did not respond to the 40-day needed to retrieve the car what happens

Thu, 01/02/2020 - 01:51 Permalink
Alfonso Cedeno (not verified)

My car has been in the shop for like 3 months three months of those six months and I do not pay a lien was put on it by the shop for $2,500 they did not respond to the 40-day needed to retrieve the car what happens

Thu, 01/02/2020 - 01:55 Permalink
Natalie Ortiz (not verified)

Hello, can you please tell me how I would go about attempting to negotiate a Pay and Delete on a car loan that has been charged off? I would like my old lender to delete this charge off on my record?

Sat, 01/04/2020 - 09:19 Permalink
hmarilyn24@aol.com (not verified)

my car is charge but I have made payment on the car I ask them to send me a print-out so I can see what I own first they said they would e-mail it at less 4 time then they was going to mail it never made it here I can feel safe riding around

Mon, 01/06/2020 - 22:58 Permalink
christopher (not verified)

What if you tried to make arrangement with finance company but they will not work with you.

Tue, 01/07/2020 - 17:36 Permalink
AMANDA BC (not verified)

How can you get a repossession removed from your credit file?

Thu, 01/09/2020 - 15:15 Permalink
Angelo knox (not verified)

Do I contact the bank my car loan is through to try to modify our agreement?

Thu, 01/16/2020 - 08:38 Permalink
Angelo knox (not verified)

Do I contact the bank my car loan is through to try to modify our agreement?

Thu, 01/16/2020 - 08:45 Permalink
mrenetzky@aol.com (not verified)

Hi - After a charge off (by Chrysler finance) will they still try to reposes the car?? If they turn it over to a collection agency will they try (of have the right) to reposes the car (live in Nevada if that matters) ? How do you (if you can) find out if a reposes order is out on your car? Thanks

Tue, 01/21/2020 - 07:26 Permalink