Behind on Auto Payments? You’re Not Alone.

If you feel like you’ve been struggling to keep up with car payments, you’re not alone: According to a recent report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, over 7 million Americans are at least 90 days behind on their auto loans.

Here are three tips on how to avoid late auto loan payments and prevent repossession.

Take a deep breath and know everything will be okay.

Make a commitment to focus on what matters most. Your situation may feel desperate, but don’t panic! Take a deep breath, relax, and commit yourself to stay focused on your needs and goals. Continuing to make payments on your debt is key to avoiding repossession. If you already have a spending plan, stick with it as much as you can, and make any necessary adjustments so that you can still meet your needs.

Get a full picture of your current expenses and develop a spending plan.

Now is an important time to get an understanding of your full financial picture so you that you can make any necessary adjustments to get back on track. A budgeting worksheet, such as the one found on our partner page, greenpathref.com, is a great tool for tracking your income and identifying expenses to cut back on so that you can catch up on your loan payments.

Investigate your options.

Addressing your needs proactively can help you get back on track sooner. It’s very likely that if you are behind on your auto loan payment, your lender will be actively reaching out to you. Fight the urge to avoid their calls and try to have an active dialogue with them. Most lenders don’t want to repossess your vehicle, and many are willing to work with you to create a flexible plan for your needs.

However, auto repossession proceedings can sometimes begin as soon as a single missed payment takes place. The sooner you can discuss your situation with your lenders, the better. Here are some options that your lender may be willing to offer you:

• Loan Forbearance/ deferment – a “pause period” that allows you to take a break from making one or sometimes several payments on your loan.
• Repayment Plan – if you are behind on your loan, this option allows you to pay the late amount as a smaller addition to your regular payment, spread out over several months.
• Change of Due Date – a change in when your payment is due so that your car payment isn’t due at the same time as other big payments like student loans, mortgage or rent.
• Voluntary Repossession – if you believe that you truly can’t afford your vehicle, working with the lender on a voluntary repossession may allow for some reduction or forgiveness of some fees and costs associated with the repossession.

Each of these options has pros and cons to consider, including how interest is treated, how much you will owe, and potential impact on your credit score.

You are not alone. The MTC Federal Automotive Lending Experts are here to support and help you understand your financial situation, pay off your debt and save money.

Call today at 800/442-7792, visit a branch or send us a message.

Source: Greenpath Financial Wellness