Can OnStar Track My Car For Repossession? Essential Requirements

If you’re facing financial difficulties and are at risk of defaulting on your vehicle loan, it’s natural to be worried about the possibility of repossession. But if you have an OnStar system installed in your car, Can OnStar track my car for repossession?

OnStar Services can help authorities locate your car for repossession if it is reported stolen or repossessed claim. However, they will only grant access to your car tracking history with your or the court’s permission.

This post will explore how the OnStar Vehicle Protection program works and what are the requirements to track a car for repossession with the OnStar tracking service.

Can OnStar track my car for repossession?

Yes, OnStar can track your car for repossession if the vehicle you are attempting to repossess is listed as a repossessed claim or stolen. OnStar uses stolen vehicle assistance service, vehicle location history and GPS tracking technology and provides the vehicle’s GPS coordinates to law enforcement to locate the vehicle.

The OnStar Vehicle Protection plan offers remote monitoring services that allow lenders, law enforcement agencies and other approved entities to monitor a specific vehicle, alerting them when it leaves predetermined geographic boundaries or travels more than certain distances.

Note that OnStar does not release its tracing data for the stolen vehicle to its subscribers, repo agent, finance company or repossession company without proper documentation of the law enforcement authorities or court order.

What are the requirements to track a car for repossession with OnStar?

To track auto repossession with OnStar, the vehicle must be equipped with an active OnStar communications module and have a valid OnStar subscription.

The vehicle’s owner must also provide explicit consent to allow OnStar to assist in its location and monitoring for repossession. Include court order, police stolen or car repossessed claim report or any other local law rules documentation.

The party requesting the tracking must have legal standing and authority to track and ultimately repossess the vehicle in question. With this authority, OnStar will proceed with tracking or repossession requests.

OnStar will only assist with repossessing a vehicle with all of these requirements being met. It is important to note that the company reserves the right to refuse any request for repossession without providing justification or explanation.

Do Repo companies use OnStar to track vehicles?

OnStar is very protective of its subscriber’s data privacy. Currently, OnStar is not affiliated with any repo companies to track vehicles. 

However, OnStar active subscribers can use the repo service and stolen vehicle assistance service to recover their cars.

How do repo companies find your car?

Repossession companies typically use various repo process to locate a car they are tasked with repossessing. Here are some common techniques:

• GPS tracking: If the car has a GPS tracking device installed, the repossession company can use the device to locate the car.
• License plate recognition: Some repossession companies use automated license plate recognition technology, which allows them to quickly scan large numbers of license plates and identify the target vehicle.
• Skip tracing: is a process of using various databases and other resources to track down a vehicle owner’s current address and other contact information. Repossession companies may use skip tracing to locate a car they need to repossess.
• Surveillance: Repossession companies may also use surveillance techniques to monitor the movements of a vehicle and determine where it is parked, particularly if they have reason to believe the vehicle owner is trying to hide the car.

How to Get a Repossessed Car Back?

If your car has been repossessed, you may wonder how to get it back. Here are the steps you can take to try to retrieve your repossessed car:

Contact the Lender

The first step is to contact the lender and find out what you need to do to get your car back. You may need to pay off the entire loan balance, plus repossession fees and other charges.

The lender should be able to provide you with a breakdown of all the costs associated with retrieving your car.

Determine if you can reinstate the loan

Some lenders allow you to reinstate the loan by catching up on the missed payments and bringing the account current. If you can do this, you can get your car back without paying off the entire loan balance.

Negotiate with the Lender

If you cannot pay off the entire loan balance or reinstate the loan, you may be able to negotiate a repayment plan or settle the debt with the lender. This will depend on the lender’s policies and your specific circumstances.

Attend the Auction

If your car has already been sold at auction, you may still be able to get it back. Attend the auction and bid on your car. If you are the highest bidder, you can get your car back.

Hire an Attorney

If you believe your car was repossessed unlawfully, hire an attorney to help you get it back. Your attorney can help you file a lawsuit against the lender and seek damages.

In any case, it’s important to act quickly if your car has been repossessed. The longer you wait, the more difficult it may be to get your car back.

What is OnStar vehicle location History?

OnStar Vehicle Location History is a feature offered through OnStar, the in-vehicle safety and security system. OnStar Vehicle Location History provides users with detailed information about where their car has been over an extended period.

Can OnStar track my car if not activated?

OnStar’s stolen vehicle assistance service is for paid subscribers only. You can still track your car with OnStar if not activated under certain terms and conditions. Read how to track my car with OnStar?

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