Missouri Car Repossession Laws: Your Rights Explained

Repossession happens when lenders take back your car after you default on payments. Missouri has specific laws that protect your rights throughout this process. Understanding these rules can help you take action before you lose your vehicle.

How Many Missed Payments Trigger Repossession in Missouri?

Missing just one payment puts your car at risk in Missouri. Once you’re at least 10 days late, your lender must send a notice. The notice of default and right to cure gives you important information.

Stop Repossession With a Debt Management Plan

Behind on car payments? Cambridge Credit Counseling can help you lower interest rates and create an affordable payment plan before your vehicle is repossessed. Get your free consultation today.

Lower Your Payments

What Does the Pre-Repossession Notice Include?

Your lender’s notice will contain three key pieces of information. You’ll see the lender’s contact details, your total amount owed, and your payment deadline. Missouri law gives you 20 days from the notice date to catch up on payments.

One important exception exists to this rule. If you’ve defaulted twice before on the same loan, lenders may skip the notice requirement entirely.

How to Stop Repossession Before It Happens

Staying current on payments is your best protection against repossession. Lenders can’t take your vehicle if you honor your loan agreement terms. Breaking the contract gives them legal grounds to repossess.

Contact your lender immediately if you’re behind or anticipating payment problems. Repossession costs them money too, so most prefer working out alternatives. Many lenders offer deferments, adjusted payment schedules, or modified loan terms.

Consider refinancing through another lender if yours won’t cooperate. Our partner Cambridge Credit Counseling can help you explore debt management options that make payments more affordable. Voluntary repossession is another option when you truly can’t afford the loan. Handing back the car doesn’t eliminate your debt, but it reduces fees and gives you more control.

What Missouri Repo Companies Can and Cannot Do

Repo companies must follow strict rules when seizing vehicles. They cannot “breach the peace” during repossession. Threats, force, violence, and public disturbances are all prohibited by law.

Breaking into locked spaces is also illegal for repo agents. They can’t enter closed garages or break through locked gates to reach your car. Similarly, you can’t use force to stop them from taking your vehicle.

Deception and fraud are off-limits for repo agents. They can’t trick or mislead you to gain possession of your vehicle. Contact an attorney or authorities if they violate these rules. Taking matters into your own hands risks legal consequences for you.

Missouri allows repossession from public spaces and unsecured private areas. Keeping your car locked in a garage won’t protect it forever. Courts can grant orders allowing repo companies to enter secured spaces. You may end up paying the lender’s legal fees and repossession costs if this happens.

What Happens to Personal Belongings in Your Car?

Repo agents can’t keep your personal property from inside the vehicle. Missouri law gives you the right to retrieve items that aren’t attached to the car.

You can contact the repossession company to collect items like purses and car seats. However, you can’t remove upgrades that require tools to uninstall. Aftermarket stereos and other improvements now belong with the vehicle.

Retrieving belongings from repo lots can be frustrating. Companies may charge storage fees for your personal property. Remove valuables from your car proactively if repossession seems likely.

The Post-Repossession Process in Missouri

Lenders must send a Notice of Our Plan To Sell Property after seizing your vehicle. The notice explains that you can redeem your car by paying your full account balance. Wait too long and your lender will sell it.

The notice includes details about when and where the sale will occur. Sales can be private or public depending on the lender’s choice. Missouri only requires lenders to wait 10 days after you receive this notice.

Ten days doesn’t give you much time to gather funds. Missouri law requires “commercially reasonable” sale methods. Your repossessed vehicle will likely sell close to or above market value because of this requirement.

Your Debt Doesn’t Disappear After Repossession

Repossession doesn’t erase what you owe. You remain responsible for the balance until it’s paid or cleared another way. Lenders typically sell repossessed cars at auction to recover their losses.

The auction proceeds go directly toward your loan balance. Two outcomes are possible:

The car sells for more than you owe, and you receive the difference
The car sells for less, and you still owe the deficiency balance

Lenders can sue you for unpaid deficiency balances. Winning in court allows them to garnish wages or freeze bank accounts. These judgments damage your credit report and tank your credit score. Deal with deficiency balances before they reach this stage.

Cambridge Credit Counseling can help you set up payment plans for post-repossession debt. A debt management plan may lower your interest rates and make repayment more manageable.

Getting Your Vehicle Back After Repossession

Missouri gives you at least 10 days to redeem your repossessed vehicle. Redemption requires paying your full balance, including past-due amounts, fees, and repossession costs.

Ten days isn’t much time to raise money. Some borrowers take out new loans to pay off old ones. Certain lenders may agree to repayment plans for the total amount owed.

Talk with your lender if you can’t pay in full but need your car back. Extreme circumstances sometimes warrant flexibility from lenders who want to avoid auction losses.

Getting Legal Help With Missouri Repossessions

You don’t have to face repossession alone. Schedule a free consultation with an attorney if your vehicle has been seized. Local legal aid offices provide low-cost or free advice to eligible borrowers.

Missouri residents can access these helpful resources:

Frequently Asked Questions

How many car payments can I miss in Missouri before repossession?

You can face repossession after missing just one payment in Missouri. Once you're 10 days late, your lender must send a notice of default giving you 20 days to catch up before they can repossess your vehicle.

Can I get my car back after repossession in Missouri?

Yes, you have at least 10 days to redeem your vehicle after repossession. You must pay the full balance owed, including past-due payments, fees, and repossession costs. Some lenders may offer payment plan options.

What happens to my debt after my car is repossessed and sold?

You remain responsible for any deficiency balance if your car sells for less than you owe. If it sells for more, you receive the difference. Unpaid deficiency balances can result in lawsuits, wage garnishment, and credit damage.

Can repo companies break into my garage to take my car?

No, repo companies cannot break into locked garages or secured spaces. However, if you refuse to move your vehicle, your lender can obtain a court order allowing repossession from secured areas, and you may pay their legal fees.

How can I prevent car repossession in Missouri?

Stay current on loan payments, contact your lender immediately if you're struggling, and ask about deferments or modified payment schedules. You can also refinance with another lender or work with a debt management service to make payments more affordable.

Missouri Car Repossession Laws: What You Need to Know