Has your car been repossessed?

Your vehicle is currently stored at our secure storage facility (Lenders Recovery Services’ lot) in the Kansas City area. We transport all repossessed vehicles to our holding facility to ensure they are kept safe and free from damage. Rest assured, your car is not being driven or used – it’s simply stored. In some cases, if a lot becomes full or if the lender directs, the vehicle might be moved to a designated auto auction facility. However, that typically happens after the window for you to get the car back has passed. In the meantime, your car will remain at our facility under 24/7 security. If you need to verify its location for any reason, you can contact us and we’ll confirm it’s in our possession. (Usually, your lender will also have the location on file.) Remember, while the car is in our care, we are responsible for keeping it in the same condition as when it was picked up, aside from normal dust or dirt. We take that responsibility seriously.

Any personal items that were inside your vehicle at the time of repossession can be retrieved by you. This includes things like bags, electronics, paperwork, groceries – anything that isn’t a permanent part of the car. We have tagged and bagged all personal belongings from your vehicle and stored them securely. To collect your belongings: Contact LRS to set up a pickup time. You can call us at 816-533-3565 Monday through Saturday, 9am – 6pm, to arrange a time. When you come, bring a government-issued ID (and it helps if you bring something that shows you were the owner/driver of the vehicle, like a registration or insurance card, but ID may be sufficient). We will verify your identity and then hand over your items. There is no fee to retrieve your personal property[2] – returning your items is a courtesy we provide. Please note: We cannot release any items that are attached to the vehicle itself (for example, an upgraded stereo system or aftermarket accessories like roof racks) without lender approval, because those might be considered part of the vehicle. But all your usual personal goods (clothes, documents, tools, etc.) are yours and we will make sure you get them back. Tip: It’s a good idea to call us as soon as possible to get your belongings, so you have everything you need (like important papers or spare keys) and so that we can clear out the vehicle.

You will need to talk to your lender (the creditor who financed your car) about getting your vehicle back. Lenders Recovery Services cannot negotiate or accept payments for your loan – only your lender has the authority to release the vehicle back to you. The good news is that in many cases, you can get your car back, either by catching up on payments or paying off the loan (plus certain fees). When you speak with your lender, ask about options to reinstate your loan or redeem the vehicle. Reinstating typically means you pay the past-due amount plus any late fees and repo costs, and then continue with your regular payments as before. Redeeming means you pay off the loan entirely (the remaining balance) to reclaim the car. Your lender will tell you which options are available and the timeframe you have to act (for example, some states give you a specific number of days to pay). Once you make arrangements with the lender, they will notify LRS to release the vehicle to you. Important: We cannot release the car to you until we get the official OK from the lender, even if you tell us you paid – it must come through the lender’s system. So keep in close touch with the lender, and make sure to get confirmation of any deal in writing. Also, be aware that if you do nothing, the lender will eventually schedule the car to be sold at auction to help pay off your loan balance. We don’t want that to happen if you’re trying to keep the car, so contact the lender right away and work out a plan. (If you feel the repossession was a mistake – for example, if you weren’t actually behind on payments – definitely call your lender immediately to sort it out. Errors can happen, and lenders have departments to quickly review such claims[3].)

Absolutely. We know that a repossession can come at a rough time – you might be dealing with job loss, family emergencies, or other financial stress. Our team’s goal is to treat every person with professionalism, dignity, and empathy. We will not judge you or make assumptions about your situation. When you contact us to retrieve belongings or ask questions, you can expect a courteous and understanding approach. In fact, we often receive feedback from individuals who were initially upset, but felt relieved after speaking with us. (For example, one Kansas City resident told us he was “embarrassed and angry” but “shocked at how understanding [LRS] was… They explained the process clearly and didn’t treat me like a criminal”. We’re proud of feedback like this and strive to live up to it in every interaction.) So, while we can’t change what happened with your loan, we can promise to handle the aftermath with care and respect. If at any point you feel you weren’t treated properly by our staff, please let our management know – we take such concerns very seriously.

No – and please beware of anyone suggesting otherwise. Repossession agents are not allowed to accept any payments from you for the loan or to “drop” the repossession. All financial matters must be handled directly with your lender. By the time our truck has your vehicle, the repossession order has already been placed by your lender, and the only way to reverse it is by lender authorization (usually after you make arrangements with them). You might have heard of situations where someone tries to pay the tow truck driver on the spot – reputable companies will not take that offer, and in many states it’s illegal. Do not hand money to a stranger or meet anyone at an unofficial location to pay for your car back. The safest course is always to work through your bank or finance company. Once you and the lender come to an agreement, they will update us. At that point, you can pay any required repossession fees or storage fees (if applicable) to the lender or sometimes to us as instructed by the lender (for example, some lenders require you to pay storage or towing fees at our lot when picking up the car – but this will be clearly communicated in the lender’s letter or by us when scheduling your pickup). If you’re unsure about any payment requested, call your lender to confirm. And remember: never pay cash to retrieve personal items or your vehicle without a receipt and confirmation from the lender – if someone asks for this, it could be a scam. LRS staff will always provide proper documentation for any fees (and again, we do NOT charge for returning personal belongings).