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Vehicle Repossession Jobs in Riverside, CA (NOW HIRING)

... repossession company with a fully in-house automotive locksmith division. Our operation has been in business 30 years and handles over 2,000 vehicle recoveries per month. We are equipped with the ...

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Vehicle Repossession information

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$9

$22

$36

How much do vehicle repossession jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 2, 2026, the average hourly pay for vehicle repossession in Riverside, CA is $22.79, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $16.50 and $25.71 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Vehicle Repossession vs Vehicle Recovery Specialist?

AspectVehicle RepossessionVehicle Recovery Specialist
CredentialsDriver's license, repossession trainingDriver's license, recovery training
Work EnvironmentLoan offices, repossession sites, public roadsAccident scenes, private properties, public roads
Industry UsageFinancial institutions, lendersInsurance companies, towing services
Common Search IntentRepossessing defaulted vehiclesLocating and retrieving vehicles after theft or breakdown

Vehicle Repossession involves retrieving vehicles from borrowers who default on loans, often working with lenders and following legal procedures. Vehicle Recovery Specialists focus on locating and retrieving vehicles, including those involved in theft or accidents, often working with insurance companies or towing services. While both roles involve vehicle retrieval, repossession is more about legal recovery for lenders, whereas recovery specialists handle broader vehicle retrieval tasks.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Vehicle Repossession Agent, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Vehicle Repossession Agent, you need a valid driver's license, knowledge of repossession laws, and often a high school diploma or equivalent. Familiarity with GPS tracking systems, skip tracing software, and compliance certifications like CARS (Certified Asset Recovery Specialist) are typically required. Strong negotiation, conflict resolution, and stress management skills help agents navigate challenging interactions and handle high-pressure situations. These skills and qualifications ensure lawful, efficient, and safe recovery of assets while minimizing risk and maintaining professionalism.

What is vehicle repossession?

Vehicle repossession is the process by which a lender or leasing company takes back possession of a vehicle from a borrower who has defaulted on their loan or lease agreement. This usually happens when the borrower fails to make required payments. The repossession process is typically carried out by licensed repossession agents who locate and retrieve the vehicle, often without prior notice to the owner. After repossession, the lender may sell the vehicle to recover the outstanding loan balance. Laws and procedures regarding repossession can vary by state and country.

What are some common challenges faced by vehicle repossession agents, and how can they be managed effectively?

Vehicle repossession agents often encounter challenges such as difficult interactions with vehicle owners, unpredictable schedules, and operating in various weather and neighborhood conditions. Effective communication skills and a calm, professional demeanor are essential when handling confrontational situations. Agents also rely on teamwork with dispatchers and other agents to ensure safety and efficiency, and many companies provide training on conflict resolution and legal compliance to help manage these challenges.

What Are Vehicle Repossession Jobs?

When someone is behind on their car payments or stops making payments altogether, the car lenders may repossess the vehicle as compensation. Vehicle repossession jobs include workers involved in the process of recovering the car to recoup some of the debt. Repossession agents attempt to contact the customer, find the car, and handle the paperwork to take the car back for the car lender. Once they locate the vehicle, the repossession agent contacts a tow truck driver to take possession of the car and move it to the location allocated by the lender. Both positions allow you to work as an independent contractor or on the staff of a repo firm.

What are popular job titles related to Vehicle Repossession jobs in Riverside, CA? For Vehicle Repossession jobs in Riverside, CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Vehicle Repossession jobs in Riverside, CA look for? The top searched job categories for Vehicle Repossession jobs in Riverside, CA are:
What cities near Riverside, CA are hiring for Vehicle Repossession jobs? Cities near Riverside, CA with the most Vehicle Repossession job openings:
Repossession & Remarketing Manager - Irvine, California

Repossession & Remarketing Manager - Irvine, California

CommunityAmerica Credit Union

Irvine, CA • On-site

$113K - $126K/yr

Full-time

Posted 19 days ago


CommunityAmerica Credit Union rating

8.5

Company rating: 8.5 out of 10

Based on 5 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz


Job description

Summary
Job Summary
Oversees the end-to-end asset recovery process for defaulted loan accounts, including repossession assignment, vendor management, collateral disposition, and post-sale resolution activities. Ensures adherence to regulatory requirements and internal policies while driving performance through effective oversight of recovery strategies, reporting, and cross-functional collaboration.
Role Hours:
  • Monday - Friday from 9am PT - 6pm PT

Salary Range:
  • $113,100 - $126,900

Duties & Responsibilities
Duties and Responsibilities
  • Oversee daily loss recovery operations, including reviewing, approving, and assigning defaulted auto loans to recovery agents in accordance with credit union and state guidelines, monitor vendor progress and timelines.
  • Manage performance, priorities, and development of the repossession specialists.
  • Monitor dashboards, queues, and reports to ensure timely follow-up, balanced workloads, and performance tracking.
  • Manage relationships with repossession agents, skip tracers, auction facilities, and titling agencies; enforce vendor compliance and performance standards.
  • Resolve complex or escalated recovery cases, including member disputes, legal inquiries, redemption terms, and high-risk accounts.
  • Oversee collateral valuation, damage assessment, and disposition strategies; coordinate repairs, insurance claims, and auctions or direct sales to maximize recovery value.
  • Review loan files for inconsistencies or potential fraud; escalate concerns to Risk Management as appropriate.
  • Review post-sale accounts and authorize placement of deficiency balances with approved collection agencies or legal counsel in accordance with policy.
  • Partner with internal teams to align strategies and improve recovery results.
  • Ensure compliance with all applicable federal and state regulations, including FDCPA, SCRA, FCRA, UDAAP, BSA, OFAC, the Patriot Act, and state-specific servicemember protections (e.g., California Military and Veterans Code "CA SCRA") as well as other applicable state laws.
  • Ensure strict adherence to Right to Cure requirements in applicable states; oversee issuance of Notice of Intent to Sell and Deficiency Balance letters.
  • Train, mentor, and coach team members on recovery procedures, systems, and regulatory updates.
  • Analyze recovery performance, vendor activity, sales outcomes, and loss trends; prepare and present reports to management with recommendations.
  • Review and audit vendor invoices, sale proceeds, refunds, and dealer reconciliations for accuracy and timeliness.
  • Ensure proper documentation of recovery actions and timely issuance of required legal notices.
  • Support process improvements, enhanced recovery rates, and overall member experience.
  • Perform additional duties to support departmental goals and organizational initiatives.
  • Oversees clerical processing functions supporting Loss Recovery and Account Resolution operations, ensuring accurate and timely completion of all transactional and administrative duties. Support function responsibilities include: transactional payment processing, loan modification and extension processing, loan charge-off processing and account adjustments. Manager is also responsible to ensure accurate and timely processing of mail, tow notification, and mail returns.

Requirements
Education and Experience Requirements:
Education
  • Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance, or a related field preferred. An equivalent combination of education and directly relevant work experience will be considered in lieu of a degree.
  • Professional certifications such as ACA International's CCCO (Certified Credit and Collections Officer), CACS (Certified Automotive Collections Specialist), or comparable recovery and collections credentials are a plus.

Experience
  • Minimum 7 years of progressively responsible experience in vehicle repossession, collateral recovery, and remarketing operations, with at least 3 years in a direct management or supervisory role over a repossession or recovery team.
  • Demonstrated experience managing a nationwide or large regional repossession and remarketing program - not just a local or branch-level portfolio - including coordination across multiple states, time zones, and vendor networks simultaneously.
  • Deep working knowledge of California's auto recovery market: South Bay and Central Valley auction corridors, California DMV titling processes for repossessed vehicles, CA Auctioneers Commission requirements, and CA-specific right-to-cure and notice of sale requirements under state law.
  • Hands-on experience managing repossession and remarketing activity in Texas, including familiarity with the Texas Certificate of Title Act, Texas Finance Code Chapter 348 self-help repossession rules, and Texas auction market dynamics.
  • Working knowledge of Nevada repossession standards, including NV Chapter 97 breach-of-peace rules, NV right-to-cure requirements, and the Las Vegas wholesale vehicle auction market.
  • Proven experience managing post-charge-off recovery programs for auto loan deficiency balances: agency placement strategy, third-party collector oversight, deficiency notice compliance, and legal collections referral.
  • Solid understanding of wholesale vehicle remarketing: auction platform mechanics, MMR/Black Book valuation methodology, condition grading, repair cost analysis, and net recovery optimization.
  • Background in auto loan default servicing at a credit union, bank, captive auto finance company, or large indirect lending operation. Experience with non-prime or nationwide indirect loan portfolios is strongly preferred.
  • Strong working knowledge of SCRA servicemember protections in the repossession context, including court-order requirements, interest rate reduction processes, and identification procedures; prior experience with SCRA-related audits or regulatory examinations is a plus.
  • Experience managing licensed repossession agent networks at scale, including agent selection, performance scorecarding, compliance auditing, and contract enforcement.
  • Proficiency with recovery and collections management systems; familiarity with skip and locate platforms (DRN, MVTRAC, CVOS, or comparable tools) and mainstream loan/collections systems is strongly preferred.
  • Prior experience managing through a core system conversion, merger integration, or large-scale portfolio transfer affecting repossession and post-charge-off recovery operations is a significant plus.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
  • General knowledge of collection practices and default servicing processes
  • Experience with installment, credit card, and real estate loan collections
  • Knowledge of credit union or financial institution products and services
  • Must be able to appropriately resolve conflicts, escalated issues, and complex member situations
  • Must be PC literate; proficient in Microsoft Office and applicable loan/collection systems
  • Ability to conform to new policies, procedures, and regulatory initiatives
  • Must be organized, detail oriented, and able to manage multiple priorities
  • Ability to function and thrive in a high-volume, production-driven environment with strict deadlines
  • Ability to work effectively both independently and within a team environment
  • Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to resolve conflict and miscommunication
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills
  • Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality when handling sensitive member and financial information
  • Knowledge of repossession and collateral recovery processes, including vendor management and asset disposition practices
  • Understanding of applicable federal and state regulations, including FDCPA, SCRA, FCRA, UDAAP, BSA, OFAC, the Patriot Act, and state-specific laws (e.g., California Military and Veterans Code protections)

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