can a car get repo at a hotel

[SanHayden]

Yes, a car can absolutely be repossessed from a hotel parking lot. Repossession agents are legally permitted to take your vehicle from any publicly accessible space once you have defaulted on your loan or lease agreement. A hotel parking lot is a common location for repossession because it's often considered a public area, especially if it's not a secured, gated lot exclusively for guests. The key factor is whether the repo agent can access the vehicle without breaching the peace, which includes not trespassing on clearly demarcated private property.

The legal basis for this is the "right to self-help" granted to lenders by the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), which most states have adopted. This allows them to repossess collateral without a court order as long as no "breach of the peace" occurs. Actions like breaking into a locked garage or confronting you physically would constitute a breach. However, quietly towing a car from an open hotel lot typically does not.

What Repo Agents Look For: Modern repossession relies heavily on technology. Agents use automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) cameras mounted on their vehicles. They patrol areas like hotel parking lots, and these cameras instantly scan plates, checking them against a database of defaulted loans. If there's a match, they will proceed with the tow. Long-term parking at a hotel can be a red flag that you might be avoiding repossession at your home or workplace.

State	Right to Cure Notice Required?	Redemption Period After Sale
California	Yes	Up to 15 days
Texas	No	None specified by statute
Florida	No	10 days after repossession
New York	Yes	10 days after notice of sale
Illinois	Yes	21 days after repossession

If you are in danger of repossession, your best course of action is to communicate proactively with your lender. Many are willing to work out a temporary payment plan or deferment if you contact them before the repo order is issued. Once the car is taken, the costs to get it back (including repossession fees, storage, and overdue payments) increase significantly.

[MacEliana]

Yes, it can happen. I travel a lot for work, and I always thought a hotel was a safe spot. But if you’ve missed payments, they can find your car. They have license plate scanners. They just drive through the parking lot, the scanner beeps, and they hook it up. It’s fast and quiet. It feels like a violation, but it’s legal if the lot is open to the public. My advice? Don't ignore the lender's calls. Talk to them before it gets to that point.

[LandonAnn]

Legally speaking, the repossession agent's authority is tied to the vehicle's location, not your location. A hotel's parking facility is generally considered a public area, granting them the right to retrieve the collateral. The critical limitation is the prohibition on "breaching the peace." They cannot use force, threaten you, or enter a clearly private space like a locked garage. An open-surface hotel lot, however, is fair game. The moment you default on your contractual agreement, the lender's right to the asset supersedes your temporary possession of it.

[StLogan]

It happened to a buddy of mine on a family vacation. He was behind on his truck payment. They found it parked at a Holiday Inn Express overnight. He came out in the morning with the kids, and it was just gone. He thought it was stolen at first. The hotel security camera showed a tow truck taking it around 4 a.m. It was a huge hassle, stranded them there. The lender didn’t care that he was on a trip. It’s a tough lesson: if you’re struggling with the payment, don’t assume you can hide your car.