Relationship Breaks up, repossesses vehicle

[eriqbat]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? FL
Hello. I have bad credit. My then fiance and I purchased a car, she put it in her name because of financing, though it is my car. I pay the bank note, the insurance, and all maintenance. We broke up and now she is threatening to repossess the car or report stolen if I do not pay off the loan in a very short time, which is not possible. The note is current, insurance good, car well maintained. What can I do?

She is using our break up as reason to void a contract.

[ecmst12]

It is her car. If she wants it back, give it back. Or refinance it into your name if she will let you.

[eriqbat]

Yes, but does the fact that I am making the payments and paying the insurance and maintenance mean nothing? The fact she bought it FOR ME, not as a condition of the relationship matter? And now she just wants it back?

[sandyclaus]

Yes, but does the fact that I am making the payments and paying the insurance and maintenance mean nothing? The fact she bought it FOR ME, not as a condition of the relationship matter? And now she just wants it back?

What part did you not understand?

It's HER car, under HER name. I'm assuming that the title/registration is ALSO in HER name only.

That means if she is angry with you because you say the sky is purple, she can take the car back. All of the payments you have made would be considered the cost of using the vehicle (and darn nice of you to boost her credit by keeping up a good payment record for her, while doing nothing to improve your own, since you are NOT on the loan). Once the car is out of your hands, you can stop paying the insurance, but while you drove the vehicle it protected the investment you were making in having a vehicle to drive. And, of course, since YOU were driving the car exclusively, you should pay for the maintenance costs.

If you had something in writing saying that you had a purchase agreement, where you make the payments and get consideration until it's paid off, then you would have something to fight back with. But you don't.

This is the very reason why, if someone buys YOU a car, then they put it in YOUR name. That way, when the relationship goes south (as it all too often does), you get to walk away with YOUR car instead of the other way around.

[!CuriousGeorge!]

Yes, but does the fact that I am making the payments and paying the insurance and maintenance mean nothing? The fact she bought it FOR ME, not as a condition of the relationship matter? And now she just wants it back?

On the flip side; you bought her a car. She has the title & you have the bills. Looks more like you bought her a car.

If you have a contract then take her to court; if over small claims then it would be regular court. That's how disputes are settled.