Vehicle Repossession
When you finance or lease a car, truck or other vehicle, your creditor or lessor holds important rights on the vehicle until you’ve made the last loan payment or fully paid off your leasing obligation. These rights are established by the signed contract and by state law. For example, if your payments are late or you default on your contract in any way, your creditor or lessor may have the right to repossess your car. In many states, creditors or lessors can do this legally without going to court or warning you in advance, as long as they do not breach the peace. In addition, your creditor or lessor may be able to sell your contract to a third party, called an assignee, who may have the same rights and responsibilities as the original creditor or lessor.
However, some state laws limit the ways a creditor or lessor can repossess and sell a vehicle to reduce or eliminate your debt. If any rules are violated, the creditor or lessor may be required to pay you damages.
Seizing the Car
In many states, your creditor or lessor has legal authority to seize your vehicle as soon as you default on your loan or lease. Because state laws differ, read your contract to find out what constitutes a default. In some states, failure to make a payment on time or to meet your other contractual responsibilities are considered defaults.
If your creditor or lessor has agreed to change your payment date or any other contractual obligations, it’s possible that the terms of your original contract may no longer apply. Such a change may be made orally or in writing. It’s best to get any changes in writing because oral agreements are difficult to prove.
If you default on your loan, the law in most states allows the creditor or lessor to repossess your car. In some states, creditors or lessors are allowed on your property to seize your car without letting you know in advance.
At the same time, the law usually doesn’t allow your creditor or lessor to commit a breach of the peace in connection with repossession. In some states, removing your car from a closed garage without your permission may constitute a breach of the peace.
Creditors or lessors who breach the peace in seizing your car may be required to compensate you if they harm you or your property.
http://www.lawforwa.org/resources.html?iso1:int=13&iso2:int=2443
http://www.repo-laws.com/repossession-codes/washington.htm



