Repossess or seize a vehicle

Under certain circumstances, you may be able to repossess or seize a vehicle.

When you can repossess or seize a vehicle

Own a repair shop and need to seize a vehicle because a client refuses to pay for repairs?

Has your tenant left more than good memories behind and now you have to somehow get rid of their abandoned vehicle?

Under certain circumstances, you may be able to repossess or seize a vehicle. Repossessions and seizures are used for a variety of reasons and may be applied when you are dealing with

• abandoned vehicles on highways
• the failure of a borrower to meet the terms of a loan
• unpaid storage fees
• vehicles abandoned by former tenants, and
• unpaid vehicle repairs.

Technically speaking, repossessions and seizures are transfers by operation of law and are allowed under various statutes, government programs, or by court order.

• Transportation Act: Allows a municipality, regional district or local police to remove abandoned vehicles from highways, public property and Crown Land.
• Personal Property Security Act: Allows a lender to repossess a vehicle if the borrower does not meet the terms of the loan.
• Rent Distress Act: Allows a landlord to seize and sell a tenant's vehicle to satisfy unpaid rent on a commercial property.
• Repairer's Lien Act: Allows a garage or repairer to seize and sell a customer's vehicle for unpaid repairs.
• Residential Tenancy Act: Allows a landlord to seize and sell vehicles abandoned by former tenants.
• Warehouse Lien Act: Allows storage facility operators to seize and sell a customer's vehicle to cover unpaid storage fees.

For each act, the repossessor must follow the statutory requirements as is necessary.

For more information about these Acts or to receive the related forms, please contact your autoplan broker.