How long can you be late on car payments before they repo?

The amount of time you can be late on car payments before your vehicle is repossessed can vary depending on the terms and conditions of your loan agreement and the laws in your jurisdiction. However, in general, most lenders will send a notice of default after you have missed two or three payments. This notice will give you a specific deadline to bring your payments up to date, usually within a window of 10-30 days. If you fail to meet the deadline set in the notice, the lender may proceed with repossession.

It's important to keep in mind that repossession is a legal process, and there are certain steps that a lender must follow before they can take possession of your vehicle. Typically, the lender will need to obtain a court order or judgement allowing them to repossess the car. If the lender has taken all the necessary steps according to the law, they can legally repossess your car if you are in default on your payments.

To avoid repossession, it's essential to make your car payments on time and according to the terms of your loan agreement. If you are experiencing difficulty making your payments, it's important to contact your lender as soon as possible to discuss options for modifying or restructuring your loan, avoiding repossession.