Can I repossess a car I co-signed for?

Answer 1

No. You need a court order.

If you agreed to obtain the car loan you should have placed your name as co-owner on the title. Since you are not on the title you cannot take possession of the car. Since you ARE responsible for the car loan you must keep the car payments current. You need to take the matter to court to request the car be retitled in your name.

There is a more serious problem lurking. You need to make sure the insurance is current and that the car is fully insured. If the legal owner has allowed the insurance to lapse or does not have full coverage you will still be responsible for repayment of the loan if the car is wrecked. That situation arises frequently in cases like this one with individuals who are not responsible enough to make car payments. If they can't make the car payments then it usually follows that they cannot make insurance payments either.

You need to get before a judge ASAP in order to get that car out of the possession of the legal "owner". Make certain you make the loan payments and that you have written proof that you are making them. You must bring that proof of payment to court as well as proof that you obtained the loan to pay for the car. If you find that the insurance has lapsed you should try to obtain proof of that also.