Repossession Laws in Connecticut

How Many Payments Can I Miss Without Risking a Repossession in Connecticut?

In Connecticut, it can take as few as one missed payment to put you in default and your car at risk of repossession. 

📃 Your car loan agreement will explain exactly what constitutes default and when you may be personally at risk.

You could be in default if you:

• Miss a payment

• Make a late or partial payment

• Let your car insurance lapse

• Break another rule in your contract

Your lender can only repossess the car after a default, and only if your contract allows it. 

Will I Be Notified Before the Repossession? How?

Lenders in Connecticut aren’t required to give you advance notice before repossessing your car. But if they choose to, the notice must follow certain rules.

✍️ If your lender sends a notice before repossession:

• It must be in writing and delivered either in person or by certified or registered mail.

• It must clearly explain:

  • What caused the default

  • How you can bring the loan current (this is called curing the default)

  • The deadline to cure, which must be at least 10 days from the day you receive the notice

  • A reminder to remove your personal belongings from the car

  • A summary of your rights if the car is repossessed

If your lender skips the advance notice and repossesses the car right away, they must:

• Notify local police of the repossession within two hours

• Send you a notice (in person or by certified mail) within three days that includes:

  • The exact amount you need to pay to get the car back (including any repossession and storage fees)

  • An itemized breakdown of those fees

  • A 15-day deadline to catch up on what you owe and prevent the lender from selling or moving the car out of Connecticut

  • Instructions on how to pick up your personal items from the vehicle

If the lender doesn’t send this notice or include the required fee breakdown, they can’t charge you for those repossession-related costs later.

How Can I Prevent a Repossession?

The best time to act is before you miss a payment. If you know you’re going to fall behind, contact your lender as soon as possible. Many lenders are more flexible when your account is still in good standing. 

👉 Some may be willing to adjust your payment due date, set up a short-term payment plan, or move a missed payment to the end of your loan. 

If your lender chooses to send you a notice before repossession, you may be able to stop the process by paying the past-due amount, unpaid interest, and any other charges listed in the notice before the deadline.

If you can’t afford to catch up on your payments, you still have options. 

🚗 One is voluntary repossession, where you return the car to the lender instead of waiting for them to take it. This doesn’t erase the loan, but it can lower the overall fees and help you avoid the stress of an unexpected repossession.

Another option is to look into Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Filing for Chapter 7 triggers a legal protection called an automatic stay. This immediately stops most collection actions, including repossessions, while your case is active. This can give you time to figure out your next steps.

If you’re considering Chapter 7, Upsolve’s free filing tool can guide you through the process so you can file on your own without paying expensive legal fees. It only takes a few minutes to see if you qualify.

What Can Repo Companies in Connecticut Do?

In Connecticut, repossession agents are allowed to take your car from almost any location — public or private — as long as they do it peacefully and legally.

❌ That means they can’t use threats, force, or harassment. They also can’t break locks, damage property, or physically remove you from the car. For example, a repo agent may take the car from your driveway or yard if it’s easy to reach, but they can’t enter a locked garage, gated area, or any other secured space.

These rules apply to you, too. If you try to stop the repossession by using threats or physical force, you could face criminal charges for breaching the peace.

Connecticut doesn’t require repo agents to show a license or special paperwork during a repossession. If you’re there when it happens, you can contact your lender to confirm that the repossession was authorized.

If your car is taken while you’re not around, you can call your local police department to confirm it was repossessed and not stolen. 

⏰ Repo agents are required to notify the police within two hours if they repossess a car without the owner's knowledge.

What About the Personal Property in My Car? 

If your car is at risk of repossession, it’s a good idea to remove any personal belongings, even if you haven’t received a notice. This can save you time, money, and stress later.

If your lender does send a notice before repossession, the notice must include a reminder to take your personal items out of the car.

🗓️ If your car is repossessed without warning, your lender must send you a notice within three days explaining how and where you can get your belongings.

You have at least 15 days after the repossession to pick up your property without paying any fees. After that, you still have up to 60 days to collect your things, but the repo company may charge you a storage fee of up to $25. 

What Happens After a Repossession in Connecticut? 

After your car is repossessed in Connecticut, your lender is required to sell it at either a public auction or through a private sale. The sale must happen no sooner than 15 days and no later than 180 days after the repossession.

At least 10 days before the sale, your lender must send you a written notice explaining what they plan to do with your car. This notice must be delivered in person or by certified or registered mail.

If the car will be sold at a public auction, the notice must include the date, time, and location of the sale, along with contact information in case you have questions. You’re allowed to attend the public auction and may even bid on your car. If it’s a private sale, the notice doesn’t need to list a specific sale date. But it must include a cutoff date, which is the earliest day your lender is allowed to sell the car. That date must be at least 15 days after the notice is sent.

What Happens After the Sale?

After your car is sold, your lender has 30 days to send you a written statement showing how the money from the sale was used. 

💰The money must be applied in this order: 

1. To pay the costs of the sale

2. To cover any repossession and storage costs

3. To cover the balance you still owe on the loan (if there are remaining funds)

If there's any money left after these steps, the lender must send that extra amount to you.

Do I Still Owe After a Repossession in Connecticut? 

If your car sells for less than what you owed on the loan — plus repossession and resale costs — your lender may try to collect the difference. This is called a deficiency balance.

But there are important protections under Connecticut law.

If your car originally cost less than $4,000, your lender usually can’t collect a deficiency at all.

If your car originally cost more than $4,000, your lender must follow a specific formula to calculate the car’s fair market value. Then, they must use whichever is greater — the fair market value or the actual sale price — when figuring out how much you still owe.

If you owe a deficiency balance and don’t pay it, your lender could take you to court. If they win, they may get a judgment that allows them to garnish your wages (meaning a portion of your paycheck could be taken to repay the debt).

✨ If you’re facing a deficiency balance and also struggling with credit card debt, medical bills, or other financial challenges, filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy may give you the relief you need. Upsolve’s free filing tool may be able to help you file for free.

Can I Get My Car Back After a Repossession in Connecticut? 

You might be able to get your car back after a repossession, but it depends on timing. And it usually involves coming up with a large lump sum, which can be tough for most people.

If your lender didn’t send a notice before repossession, Connecticut law gives you 15 days to get the car back by paying what you owe. This includes your past-due payments, interest, and any reasonable repossession and storage costs. Your lender must send you a breakdown of these charges within three days after taking the car.

If your lender did send a notice before repossessing, you typically don’t have the right to just catch up after the car is taken. But you might still be able to redeem the vehicle by paying off the entire remaining loan balance plus repo-related fees before the car is sold.

Once the car is sold, you usually can’t get it back.

If you're feeling overwhelmed or unsure about what to do next, consider setting up a free consultation with a bankruptcy attorney. They can help you understand your rights and explain the options that might be available in your situation.

Where Can I Find More Information About Repossession Laws in Connecticut? 

• CT Law Help offers free legal help for people who can’t afford a lawyer, plus a helpful online guide on repossession in Connecticut.  

• Connecticut Legal Services provides legal representation and counsel to low-income clients with civil matters.

• Statewide Legal Services of Connecticut offers legal aid advice and referrals to low-income people in Connecticut.

• Greater Hartford Legal Aid provides free legal services to low-income people and seniors in the Hartford area.

• Office of Legislative Research provides a helpful summary of Connecticut’s repossession laws in an easy-to-read report.

🏛️ Connecticut General Statutes Title 36a, Chapter 669 (§ 36a-770 to § 36a-788) covers repossession laws for financed vehicles in Connecticut.