Holiday season

Car repossessed or about to be? Your rights in Nevada

In plain words: if you fall behind on a car loan, the lender can take the car without a court order, but only without a breach of the peace (NRS 104.9609). Before it sells the car it must send you at least 10 days' written notice with the amount to get it back (NRS 482.516). It must sell the car in a commercially reasonable way, and any surplus is yours (NRS 482.5163).

What the lender can and can't do

Taking the car (NRS 104.9609)

After a default, the lender may take the car
With a court order, or without one if it causes no breach of the peace
A repo done without the owner knowing must be reported right away to city police or the sheriff (NRS 482.518)

Before the sale (NRS 482.516)

At least 10 days' written notice of intent to sell or lease the car again
Given in person or mailed to the address on your contract, or a new one you gave in writing
Says you can redeem and the total needed to do it
Says where the car will be returned and who to pay

The sale (NRS 482.5163)

Must be commercially reasonable
Money goes first to repo and sale costs, then your loan, then other lienholders who asked in writing
Anything left over is paid to you

Shutdown protection (NRS 482.5165)

Federal, state and tribal workers and their household members, with proof
No repo from the day a government shutdown begins until 30 days after it ends
A knowing violation is a misdemeanor, and the lender can owe damages and attorney's fees

What to do now

1. Keep every letter. Note the date the car was taken and the date each notice arrived. The 10 days run from when the notice was given or mailed.

2. Decide fast whether to get it back. You can redeem by paying everything the loan secures plus the lender's reasonable repo costs, any time before the car is sold or under contract to sell (NRS 104.9623). Some lenders also offer to reinstate the loan; the notice says if yours does.

3. Ask in writing for your things. Anything you left in the car: list it, and ask the lender and the repo company where and when you can pick it up.

4. Check the deficiency bill. If they say you still owe money after the sale, compare it to the rules below before you pay.

If they say you still owe money

No proper notice, no deficiency

You owe a balance after the sale only if the notice went out within 60 days of the repo
And it itemized the balance and every repo, collection or late fee
And it showed or mentioned any credit for unearned finance charges or cancelled insurance (NRS 482.516(3))

A bad sale costs the lender

A court can stop or set terms on a sale that breaks these rules
After the sale you can recover your loss
If the sale wasn't commercially reasonable, double your actual damages (NRS 482.5163(3))

Sued for the balance?

Answer by the deadline on the papers. Got sued walks through it and links the answer packet for a car that was repossessed and sold. If they already won, see wage garnishment. Free help: free legal help.

Behind but the car isn't gone yet

Call the lender before the next missed payment and ask, in writing, what they will accept. For help with other bills this season, see holiday bill help. Many debts at once: bankruptcy.

Not sure if it was repossessed or stolen?

Call the police non-emergency line or check with the lender first. If it wasn't a repo, see stolen car. If a tow company took it, see unlawful tow.

Read 2026-11-05 from Nevada Revised Statutes on this house's law shelf: NRS 482.516, 482.5163, 482.5165 and 482.518 (chapter 482, Rev. 9/9/2026); NRS 104.9609, 104.9610 and 104.9623 (chapter 104, Rev. 4/15/2026).