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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>72369</law_id><section_number>6.2-2217</section_number><catch_line>Limited recourse; repossession and sale of motor vehicle</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>6.2-2210</reference><reference>6.2-2216</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="6.2">Financial Institutions and Services</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="III">Other Regulated Providers of Financial Services</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="22">Motor Vehicle Title Loans</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Except as otherwise provided in subsection E, a <span class="dictionary">licensee</span> taking a security <span class="dictionary">interest</span> in a <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> pursuant to this chapter shall be limited, upon <span class="dictionary">default</span> by the borrower, to seeking repossession of, preparing for sale, and selling the <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> in accordance with Title 8.9A. Unless (i) the <span class="dictionary">licensee</span>, at least 10 days prior to repossessing the <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> securing a <span class="dictionary">title loan</span>, has sent to the borrower, by first class mail, written notice advising the borrower that his <span class="dictionary">title loan</span> is in <span class="dictionary">default</span> and stating that the <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> may be repossessed unless the <span class="dictionary">principal</span> and <span class="dictionary">interest</span> owed under the <span class="dictionary">loan agreement</span> are paid and (ii) the borrower does not pay such <span class="dictionary">principal</span> and <span class="dictionary">interest</span> prior to the date the <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> is repossessed by or at the direction of the <span class="dictionary">licensee</span>, then the <span class="dictionary">licensee</span> shall not collect or charge the costs of repossessing and selling the <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> described in subdivision A 5 of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Authorized fees and charges" href="/6.2-2216/">6.2-2216</a>. A <span class="dictionary">licensee</span> shall not repossess a <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> securing a <span class="dictionary">title loan</span> prior to the date specified in the notice. Except as otherwise provided in subsection E, a <span class="dictionary">licensee</span> shall not seek or obtain a personal money <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> against a borrower for any amount owed under a <span class="dictionary">loan agreement</span> or any deficiency resulting after the sale of a <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span>. <a id="paragraph-260692" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/6.2-2217/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> At least 15 days prior to the sale of a <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span>, a <span class="dictionary">licensee</span> shall (i) notify the borrower of the date and time after which the <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> is subject to sale and (ii) provide the borrower with a written accounting of the <span class="dictionary">redemption</span> amount, which shall be the sum of the <span class="dictionary">principal</span> amount due to the <span class="dictionary">licensee</span>, <span class="dictionary">interest</span> accrued through the date the <span class="dictionary">licensee</span> took <span class="dictionary">possession</span> of the <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span>, and any reasonable expenses incurred to date by the <span class="dictionary">licensee</span> in taking <span class="dictionary">possession</span> of, preparing for sale, and selling the <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span>. At any time prior to such sale, the <span class="dictionary">licensee</span> shall permit the borrower to redeem the <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> by tendering cash or other good funds instrument for the <span class="dictionary">principal</span> amount due to the <span class="dictionary">licensee</span>, <span class="dictionary">interest</span> accrued through the date the <span class="dictionary">licensee</span> took <span class="dictionary">possession</span>, and any allowable fees or costs of repossessing and selling the <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> described in subdivision A 5 of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Authorized fees and charges" href="/6.2-2216/">6.2-2216</a>. Borrowers shall be permitted to recover personal items from repossessed <span class="dictionary">motor vehicles</span> promptly and at no cost. <a id="paragraph-260693" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/6.2-2217/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Within 10 days of the <span class="dictionary">licensee</span>&#x2019;s receipt of funds from the sale of a <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span>, the borrower is entitled to receive all proceeds from such sale of the <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> in excess of the <span class="dictionary">redemption</span> amount included in the notice described in subsection B, less any additional allowable fees or costs of repossessing and selling the <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> described in subdivision A 5 of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Authorized fees and charges" href="/6.2-2216/">6.2-2216</a> that were not included in the <span class="dictionary">redemption</span> amount. <a id="paragraph-260694" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/6.2-2217/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> Except in the case of <span class="dictionary">fraud</span> or a voluntary surrender of the <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span>, a <span class="dictionary">licensee</span> shall not take <span class="dictionary">possession</span> of a <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> until such time as a borrower is in <span class="dictionary">default</span> under the <span class="dictionary">loan agreement</span>. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the repossession and sale of a <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> shall be subject to the provisions of Title 8.9A. <a id="paragraph-260695" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/6.2-2217/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, but subject to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Authorized fees and charges" href="/6.2-2216/">6.2-2216</a>, upon <span class="dictionary">default</span> by a borrower, a <span class="dictionary">licensee</span> may seek a personal money <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> against the borrower for any amounts owed under a <span class="dictionary">loan agreement</span> if the borrower impairs the <span class="dictionary">licensee</span>&#x2019;s security <span class="dictionary">interest</span> by (i) intentionally damaging or destroying the <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span>, (ii) intentionally concealing the <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span>, (iii) giving the <span class="dictionary">licensee</span> a <span class="dictionary">lien</span> in a <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> that is already encumbered by an undisclosed prior <span class="dictionary">lien</span>, or (iv) subsequently giving a security <span class="dictionary">interest</span> in, or selling, a <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> that secures a <span class="dictionary">title loan</span> to a third <span class="dictionary">party</span>, without the <span class="dictionary">licensee</span>&#x2019;s written consent. <a id="paragraph-260696" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/6.2-2217/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2010, c. 477, &#xA7; 6.1-497; 2020, cc. 1215, 1258.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
