I stopped making car payments because I got sick or lost my job. What should I do?

When you buy a car, you sign two legal documents. First, an agreement to make a monthly payment. Second, an agreement to allow repossession of your car if you do not make payments.

If you get behind on payments, you can return the car or the creditor can take your car and sell it. In either case, there is probably going to be more money owed. The creditor can take you to court to get this money. This is called a “deficiency judgment” because the amount from the sale is less than the amount owed.

Getting sick or losing your job will not stop a repossession unless you purchased disability or unemployment insurance on your loan. This may help in making payments and prevent losing your car.