DAUGHTER STOLE CAR

Everybody's Uncle,

Two years ago I bought my daughter a SUV, year 2000. I took out a loan in my name and it is registered to me. Our agreement was that I would pay her insurance and she would make the loan payments. This past August she stopped making payments. Many times she said she was going to pay it, she did not. After almost 3 months in arrears, I was forced to make the account current to avoid foreclosure and damaging my credit.
In November I called her and told her that she has lost her rights to use the car. That I was going to pick it up. (I live in another state). She has subsequently disappeared and no one knows where she is. Obviously, she doesn't want to give me the car. She has been gone almost 40 days. What are my legal rights in taking the car? Could I repossess it as the legal owner if I can locate her? Could I hire a repo agency?
 
Rafael

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Rafael,

If you are the registered owner of the car, it is yours to take. You could hire anyone you wish to pick up the car.

You notified your daughter that she no longer has permission to use your car. Additionally, you made payments for several months. If she is using your car against your will and legal notice, I see no reason why the car could not be considered stolen and reported to the police as a stolen vehicle.

However, if she "stole" the car your insurance company might deny coverage. This could cause serious complications in a worst case scenario. Unless you are prepared to press charges for auto theft, you might want to seek and recover the vehicle privately.

You seem to have all the legal cards on your side of the table, but do you want to strain the parent child relation to the breaking point.

Weigh emotion against legality and act accordingly.
Everybody's Uncle