What happens if EMI is missed for more than 90 days for a Car Loan?

Read this article to know what happens if you miss a car loan EMI for more than 90 days
What happens if EMI is missed for more than 90 days for a Car Loan?
3 min
15-November-2024
Missing a car loan EMI payment can have a significant impact on your financial health. Car loans are typically structured with fixed monthly payments, and any delays or defaults can lead to additional charges, a damaged credit score, and even repossession of the vehicle. It's essential to understand the consequences of missing car loan EMIs and take proactive steps to avoid it. Whether it's a temporary setback or an ongoing financial issue, there are ways to manage missed payments effectively. In this article, we’ll explore what happens when you miss a car loan EMI, how it impacts your finances, and the tools available to help you stay on top of your loan payments. We’ll also outline practical steps to prevent future missed payments, ensuring you stay on track with your car loan repayment schedule and protect your financial future.

What are the missed Car Loan EMI payments?

Missed car loan EMI payments occur when the borrower fails to pay the scheduled monthly instalment for their car loan. This can happen due to financial difficulties, forgetfulness, or an error in the bank's processing system. Regardless of the reason, missing an EMI payment can lead to several issues for the borrower.

The missed EMI becomes overdue, and the lender typically imposes late fees and penalties. Additionally, missed payments are reported to credit bureaus, which can affect your credit score negatively. If a car loan remains unpaid for several months, the lender may initiate legal proceedings to recover the outstanding amount, which can include repossession of the vehicle. It’s important to note that missing even one EMI can trigger a series of financial consequences, so it’s crucial to make payments on time or communicate with your lender if you anticipate any issues.

If you’re facing difficulties, consider reaching out to the lender and exploring options like loan restructuring or EMI moratoriums to avoid long-term consequences.

Some likely ways how missed car payments can affect you

Missing car loan payments can have serious financial consequences. Here are some of the ways missed payments can affect you:

Late fees and penalties: The lender imposes a late fee on the overdue EMI, which can add to the outstanding amount. Repeated late payments can also increase the penalty amount over time.

Penal charges: On top of the late fees, penal charges can be applied to the loan, increasing the total amount payable. These charges are typically higher than regular interest rates.

Potential for loan default: Missing multiple payments can result in a loan default, where the lender declares the loan as overdue and begins legal proceedings to recover the outstanding amount.

Financial tools to help avoid missed Car Loan payments

Managing your car loan payments becomes much easier with the right financial tools. Here are some tools that can help prevent missed payments:

Car Loan EMI Calculator: Use an EMI calculator to help you understand your monthly payments, track your remaining balance, and adjust your budget accordingly. It ensures you don’t miss out on important due dates by giving you a clear picture of your repayment schedule.

Budgeting apps: Budgeting apps help you track your income and expenses, ensuring that you always have enough funds set aside to meet your EMI payments. These apps send reminders before your due dates and help you plan for any upcoming payments.

Steps to prevent missed Car Loan payments

To prevent missing car loan payments, follow these practical steps:

Set up auto-debit payments: Enabling auto-debit ensures your EMI is automatically deducted from your account on the due date, eliminating the risk of forgetting to make the payment.

Track your EMI schedule: Regularly check your loan repayment schedule and make a note of the payment dates to stay informed.

Create a budget: Incorporating your EMI payment into your monthly budget can help ensure you have enough funds allocated for the payment.

Communicate with the lender: If you foresee any financial difficulty, inform the lender in advance to discuss options such as an EMI reschedule or moratorium.

By staying proactive, you can avoid the consequences of missed payments and protect both your car and your financial health.

Consequences of missing Car Loan EMI payments

Missing car loan EMI payments can have significant repercussions. Here are some key consequences you should be aware of:

CIBIL score: Missing a car loan EMI can lower your CIBIL score, which is a crucial factor for determining your creditworthiness in the future. A low CIBIL score can impact your ability to secure other loans or credit cards at favourable terms.

Credit worthiness: Your overall creditworthiness declines when you miss loan payments. Lenders use this as a factor when evaluating you for future loans. Frequent delays or defaults can make it harder to get approved for any type of credit.

Penalties: Lenders impose late payment penalties on missed EMIs, which can accumulate over time, adding more to your outstanding balance. These penalties increase your total debt and can delay your financial recovery.

Recovery agents: If payments continue to be missed for a longer period, the lender may hand over the loan to recovery agents who will attempt to recover the outstanding amount. This can lead to legal proceedings and additional stress, including the potential repossession of your car.

For more details on how to pay missed car loan installments or to check your car loan due date, you can visit the provided links for assistance.

Conclusion

In conclusion, missing car loan EMI payments can have severe consequences, including damage to your CIBIL score, reduced creditworthiness, and the accumulation of penalties. Recovery agents may be involved if payments continue to be missed, leading to further complications. To avoid these repercussions, it is essential to stay on top of your EMI payments. If you face any financial difficulty, consider seeking solutions such as loan restructuring or exploring financial tools like EMI calculators to manage your payments effectively. Always aim to clear dues on time to safeguard your credit health and maintain financial stability.

Frequently asked questions

What happens if the car loan is not paid for 3 months?
Missing car loan payments for three months can result in penalties, a damaged credit score, and legal action from the lender. It may lead to the repossession of the vehicle and difficulty obtaining credit in the future.

How to skip Car Loan EMI for 3 months?
Skipping an EMI typically requires a moratorium or EMI holiday, which some lenders may offer during financial hardship. You need to request approval from your lender and ensure you're eligible for such an option.

What is the penalty for delayed Car Loan EMI?
Penalties for delayed car loan EMI payments include late fees, increased interest rates, and a negative impact on your credit score. These charges can compound over time, making the total repayment amount higher.

Can I get a car loan after missing payments for more than 90 days?
After missing payments for over 90 days, securing a new car loan becomes challenging due to a poor credit history. Lenders may deny approval, or offer higher interest rates, and stricter terms due to the perceived risk.

Show More Show Less

Disclaimer

While care is taken to update the information, products, and services included in or available on our website and related platforms/websites, there may be inadvertent inaccuracies or typographical errors or delays in updating the information. The material contained in this site, and on associated web pages, is for reference and general information purpose and the details mentioned in the respective product/service document shall prevail in case of any inconsistency. Subscribers and users should seek professional advice before acting on the basis of the information contained herein. Please take an informed decision with respect to any product or service after going through the relevant product/service document and applicable terms and conditions. In case any inconsistencies observed, please click on reach us.

*Terms and conditions apply

Bajaj Finserv App for All Your Financial Needs and Goals

Trusted by 50 million+ customers in India, Bajaj Finserv App is a one-stop solution for all your financial needs and goals.

You can use the Bajaj Finserv App to:

Apply for loans online, such as Instant Personal Loan, Home Loan, Business Loan, Gold Loan, and more.

Explore and apply for co-branded credit cards online.

Invest in fixed deposits and mutual funds on the app.

Choose from multiple insurance for your health, motor and even pocket insurance, from various insurance providers.

Pay and manage your bills and recharges using the BBPS platform. Use Bajaj Pay and Bajaj Wallet for quick and simple money transfers and transactions.

Apply for Insta EMI Card and get a pre-approved limit on the app. Explore over 1 million products on the app that can be purchased from a partner store on easy EMIs.

Shop from over 100+ brand partners that offer a diverse range of products and services.

Use specialised tools like EMI calculators, SIP Calculators

Check your credit score, download loan statements and even get quick customer support—all on the app.

Download the Bajaj Finserv App today and experience the convenience of managing your finances on one app.

Do more with the Bajaj Finserv App!

UPI, Wallet, Loans, Investments, Cards, Shopping and more