Can I give my car back to the finance company?

If you can't afford your car payments, you can give the vehicle back to your car loan lender. But just because you surrender the car doesn't mean that the creditor has forgiven the debt or that it has to. (If you're giving the car back under the assumption that the creditor will write the loan off, think again!)

What happens if I don't want my financed car anymore?

When you know you can't afford your car anymore and the repo man is closing in, you have the option of doing what's called a “voluntary repossession” or “voluntary surrender.” You take your vehicle back to your lender or dealership before it's taken from you.

Can you give your car back to the loan company?

The Basics of Voluntary Repossession

Giving your car back to the finance company is called voluntary repossession. Sometimes it's also called a voluntary surrender. In many cases it can save you some money.

How do I return a car I can't afford?

If you simply can't afford your car payments any longer, you could ask the dealer to agree to voluntary repossession. In this scenario, you tell the lender you can no longer make payments ask them to take the car back. You hand over the keys and you may also have to hand over money to make up the value of the loan.

Will a voluntary repossession hurt you?

Voluntarily surrendering your vehicle may be slightly better than having it repossessed. Unfortunately, both are very negative and will have a serious impact on your credit scores.

Voluntary Repossession - Is it a bad idea?

How can I get rid of my financed car?

Can you return a financed car back to the bank?

If you find that you're no longer able to keep up with your car payments, you can hand it back to the lender. You can do this by writing a letter of notice informing the lender that you want to terminate your contract.

Does returning a car affect credit?

Voluntarily surrendering your vehicle will have a substantially negative impact on your credit scores because it means that you did not fulfill the original loan agreement. When you voluntarily surrender your vehicle, the lender will sell the car to recover as much of the money owed as possible.

Is a voluntary surrender better than a repo?

Because a voluntary surrender means you worked with the lender to resolve the debt, future lenders may view it a little more favorably than a repossession when they review your credit history. However, the difference will likely be minimal in terms of your credit scores.

Will a dealership buy my car if I still owe?

What happens if I still owe money on my trade in car? It's important that you know the pay-off amount – how much you still owe – and the trade value of the car – how much the dealer is willing to offer you. A dealer will then pay off your old loan and give you a credit for the value of your trade vehicle.

How can I get rid of my car without hurting my credit?

What happens if u return a financed car?

If you return the car to the lender, the lender will likely sell it. It will apply the proceeds of the sale to your car loan balance, after reimbursing itself for the costs of sale and certain fees.

Can I sell my car back to the dealership?

Selling my car when it's on finance or PCP deal? You can sell your car to a dealership even if it's on finance from another dealership or lender.

What does a voluntary repossession do?

In a voluntary repossession, you return your vehicle to your lender when you are unable to make payments. You inform your lender you will not make payments going forward and that you want to surrender the car. Then, you schedule a time and place where you bring the vehicle (and a ride home), and you turn over the keys.

What happens if I sell a car with outstanding finance?

If you sell an automobile with outstanding finance on it without informing the buyer of the situation, it is likely that the finance company will track them down to repossess it.

Will a car dealer settle my finance?

Will a car dealership settle my finance? Another short answer: yes. This is a popular process for people looking to upgrade or change their car before paying off the total outstanding finance.

Does voluntary termination affect my credit score?

Does voluntary termination affect my credit score? Voluntary termination will probably appear on your credit score. However, as long as you make your 50% repayment amount and any additional charges (e.g. for wear and tear), it is unlikely to have a sizeable impact on your ability to get car finance in the future.

How soon can you trade in a financed car?

WesBank's data shows the majority of vehicle finance contracts are in place for six years (72 months). In these cases, a breakeven point would normally arrive at between 24 and 36 months, depending on the size of the deposit at time of sale.

Can you swap your car finance to another car?

While you can't swap a finance agreement from one car to another, there may still be the option to change your car if you have finance outstanding. To do so, you could pay off the remaining balance, then sell your car and buy a new one. Or you could part-exchange through your dealership.

Can you trade in 2 financed cars for one?

Trading in two cars for one

Though not typical, it is possible to trade in two vehicles to buy one. And when trading in two cars for one, you may be able to increase the amount of your down payment, allowing you to finance less money and also lower your monthly payments.

Can I give my car back after 2 years?

You can return it, but you'll probably have to pay back any remaining money you owe on the contract, so if you still have a year left, then the lender will expect a year's worth of fees up front.

Can I cancel a finance agreement?

Contact the lender to tell them you want to cancel - this is called 'giving notice'. It's best to do this in writing but your credit agreement will tell you who to contact and how. If you've received money already then you must pay it back - the lender must give you 30 days to do this.

How long does a dealer have to settle finance?

As part of the deal they will have obtained a settlement figure on the old agreement, this figure is valid for around 28 days so the finance can be settled anytime up until the specified date with no further charges or interest added.

How much does surrendering a car affect your credit?

A voluntary repossession will likely cause your credit score to drop by at least 100 points. This point drop is due to a couple of factors: the late payments that cause the repo and the collection account that is likely to result from it.

How long does a voluntary surrender Stay on credit?

If the account in question is closed due to charge off, repossession, or voluntary surrender, it will remain part of your credit report for seven years from the original missed payment that led up to that derogatory status. That date is referred to as the original delinquency date.