Starting a Career as a Repo Man

Working as a repo man can be a lucrative career. Banks and finance companies issue vehicle loans on the understanding that, if the borrower does not pay the lender as agreed, the car will be taken back. This is a process called repossession, and individuals charged with the responsibility of taking back cars for an owed finance company or car dealer are often referred to as a "repo man."

Before getting started, ensure you have the necessary skills and contacts to be a successful repo man. Formal education and licenses are not required. However, if you are going to work as an independent contractor, you may need to know how to break into and start parked cars (which is legal if you are authorized by the lender and do not break into a garage to do this) while doing minimal damage. It also is good to have deals with tow truck drivers who can come haul the car away if you do not have access to tow trucks.

To get a job, research "auto recovery" services in your area and call each number and express your availability and interest in working as a repo man. This also gives you access to more resources such as connections to tow truck drivers.

Another way to get work is to contact local "buy here, pay here" auto dealers in your area, since they often do their own financing and have a lot of defaulted loans. Such dealers will also have keys to their cars, lessening the need for mechanical skills or tow truck resources. Present yourself as someone who is honest but not afraid to repossess cars. There is usually no room in the repossession business for people who are confrontational or have a criminal history, so emphasizing your honesty and sensible lack of fear is an important step toward getting that job.

Visit or call loan officers at local banks and credit unions (local or state-owned institutions are better than approaching major banks such as Wachovia or Bank of America) and let them know you are available as a repo man.

Commit yourself to not disturbing the peace with a confrontation or breaking into garages to repossess cars. These activities are illegal, potentially dangerous to you, and not necessary to make a good living as a repo man.

Call the police right before repossessing any vehicle. This helps prevent stolen vehicle reports and other problems that could arise from auto recovery. Never take a car unless you are absolutely sure (preferably by viewing the lender-borrower contract) that it is the right vehicle.