How to Become a Repo Man

Repo man (or woman) repossesses cars and other vehicles when buyers have fallen behind on their payments. While the job doesn't have all the quirky intrigue of the 1984 movie of the same name, the position requires a certain amount of ingenuity, and deviousness on the part of the repo man. After all, you're literally stealing back the buyer's vehicle. Here's how to get started as a repo man.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Learn the repossession laws in your state. In Florida and California, individual repo agents need to have a state license and work for an agency licensed by the state. Most other states don't require licenses for repo agents.

2. Take a legitimate course in the repossession field. Some companies offer online courses or books with general tricks of the trade. Some schools that coach private investigators also train repo agents or offer repossession techniques as part of their curriculum.

3. Call repo agencies in your community and see if they will hire you as a trainee. Many repossession companies will send you out with an experienced agent until you gain the practical knowledge and wily, gut-level skills to go out on your own.

4. Develop your detective skills and your intuition. You'll need to locate the whereabouts of a person's vehicle and "steal it back" for the company that initially sold the car, boat, truck or other vehicle. And you'll need to do it without the consumer noticing you or getting "tipped off" by others. This isn't a job for nervous or self-conscious people.

5. Toughen your skin. As a repo man, you'll be dealing with people at their worst. Get used to being lied to or avoided by consumers trying to keep you away from their car.

Resources

• Get a list of repo companies in all 50 states here.
• Look for a job as a repo man in the Repoman.com forums.

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[azt3kraid3r]

on 10/18/2009 Blah Blah Blah. yeah all that might not be true Thompson is making it sound like your life is totally over but what he really means is that he does not need anymore competition, i am a rookie at this and the banks is loosing money but you do it at your own pace, Thompson is money hungry and maybe even paying child support or something to work like a dog.....

[carlosbarr]

on 4/20/2009 I would love to still become a repoman, I have dream this for years and I would like to have the opportunity to become one I will even start with no pay to show that I can do this work, my dream work.

[thompsonrepo]

on 5/12/2008 Well I am a reposser and yeah the 1 through 4 steps are pretty much the just of it. But to really be one of the best repossers in the field and make allot of money do it. This is what you need to do. GIVE UP LIFE AS YOU KNOW IT ! ! ! ! Friends, family, everyone. Your new friends will be the company that you work for and the finance companies. You will need to work 10 to 15 hours a day. Sometimes two days straight. You will learn to live in the tow truck that you are working in. And if you’re thinking that you will get over time for all thoughts hours worked? HA HA HA HA .... Sorry son, but there is no over time there is no holiday pay, sick time, requesting for days off. This is a straight commission job. That means you get paid for how many vehicles you happen to pick up. How is being a reposser sounding? Great? Exciting? Hell you want to know what exciting is? It’s having a desperate m