Ford vehicles of the future could repossess themselves and drive away

With automated repossession, a company may be able to disable one or more components of a vehicle if you fall behind on your car payments.

Automaker Ford has applied for a patent in the U.S. that would give vehicles the ability to repossess themselves, including the potential capability to self-drive directly to a repossession agency.

The patent, entitled “Systems and Methods to Repossess a Vehicle,” was published on Feb. 23. Repossession usually occurs when a buyer defaults on necessary payments, causing a bank to seize said property (in this case, a Ford vehicle) without a court proceeding.

The 14-page document goes into detail about the methods and reasoning for automated repossession, including the ability for Ford to disable one or more components of a vehicle — everything from its engine to its lock mechanisms or entertainment system.

In the patent, Ford claims vehicle owners notified of repossession “may attempt to impede the repossession operation.”

“In some cases, this can lead to confrontation,” Ford reasons in the patent. “It is therefore desirable to provide a solution to address this issue.”

The solution: to install a system that could forcibly repossess a vehicle without the owner’s presence. According to the patent, any vehicle with autonomous or semi-autonomous capabilities could be self-driven “from a first spot to a second spot that is more convenient for a tow truck to tow the vehicle.” The company says the vehicle could be driven via autopilot to a repossession agency or impound lot.

If the vehicle is not financially worthy of being fully repossessed, the automated repossession system “may cooperate with the vehicle computer to autonomously move the vehicle from the premises of the owner to a junkyard.”

This would be determined based on the car’s mileage, condition and other costs associated with repossession, like towing fees.