[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/www.lawtoncates.com\/blog\/3-things-you-didnt-know-you-could-do-to-stop-a-c\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.lawtoncates.com\/blog\/3-things-you-didnt-know-you-could-do-to-stop-a-c\/","headline":"3 Things You Didn’t Know You Could Do To Stop a Car Repossession","name":"3 Things You Didn’t Know You Could Do To Stop a Car Repossession","description":"Car owners in Wisconsin have rights even after they have defaulted on their car loans. Lenders who repossess your car in violation of those rights may have to give the car back and may face even greater penalties, including (under some circumstances) having to repay you all the money you\u2019ve ever paid them. But those […]","datePublished":"2019-01-21","dateModified":"2025-11-25","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.lawtoncates.com\/blog\/author\/briane-pagel\/#Person","name":"Briane Pagel","url":"https:\/\/www.lawtoncates.com\/blog\/author\/briane-pagel\/","identifier":29,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/457ef237bf76f8939a4550b2f672b542659ac99ac598d97e10a760eb25488c45?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/457ef237bf76f8939a4550b2f672b542659ac99ac598d97e10a760eb25488c45?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"LawtonCates, S.C.","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.lawtoncates.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/lawtoncates-logo.png","url":"https:\/\/www.lawtoncates.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/lawtoncates-logo.png","width":438,"height":73}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.lawtoncates.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/lawton-cates-attorneys.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.lawtoncates.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/lawton-cates-attorneys.jpg","width":694,"height":550},"url":"https:\/\/www.lawtoncates.com\/blog\/3-things-you-didnt-know-you-could-do-to-stop-a-c\/","about":["Consumer Law","Consumer Protection","Repossession"],"wordCount":474,"articleBody":"Car owners in Wisconsin have rights even after they have defaulted on their car loans. Lenders who repossess your car in violation of those rights may have to give the car back and may face even greater penalties, including (under some circumstances) having to repay you all the money you\u2019ve ever paid them.But those penalties don\u2019t help in the short run if the lender took your car, so to avoid them getting your car in the first place, take these easy steps to delay or avoid repossession.Tell them not to take it.\u00a0Wisconsin prohibits any repossession when there has been a \u201cbreach of the peace.\u201d You don\u2019t have to yell or start a fight to cause a breach of the peace; all you have to do is calmly tell the person trying to take your car that you don\u2019t want them to take it. There\u2019s nothing special you have to say; just say something like \u201cI don\u2019t want you to take my car,\u201d or \u201cI object to you taking my car.\u201d At that point, Wisconsin law requires that the person trying to repossess the car must stop; the only exception is if the person taking the vehicle is a sheriff\u2019s deputy armed with a court order. Keep in mind that even if the repo man leaves at that time, he can always come back later, and most will watch the car for at least a little while.Keep your car in a spot where people aren\u2019t free to go.\u00a0 Repo men can\u2019t enter your house, and may not be allowed to get into places like detached garages or other enclosed spaces, provided that the space is locked. Even a fenced-in area might be safe from intrusion. But be careful, because they can come onto your driveway, and can take your vehicle from any public place they find it. If you see someone taking your car from a parking lot or your driveway, you can always tell them not to take it, and they should stop.Require your lender to proceed in court.\u00a0If you borrowed less than $25,000 to buy your car, the lender must provide you a notice before repossessing the vehicle, and that notice gives you the option of requiring the lender to get a court order. If you require the lender to go to court, the lender cannot take your car before getting a court order, giving you a chance to argue your case in court or work something out with the lender.And one final tip to avoid repossession? As soon as you fall behind on your loan, regardless of why you fell behind, call one of LawtonCates\u2019 consumer protection lawyers. We can help make sure your rights are protected, and can often help you avoid repossession without filing bankruptcy."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/www.lawtoncates.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"3 Things You Didn’t Know You Could Do To Stop a Car Repossession","item":"https:\/\/www.lawtoncates.com\/blog\/3-things-you-didnt-know-you-could-do-to-stop-a-c\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]