WATCHING your car be towed away by a bailiff is the stuff of nightmares.
It probably won’t come as much of a surprise that, during the ongoing cost of living crisis, online searches for bailiffs through 2022 increased by a massive 569% compared to the previous year.
Not a person any driver wants to see at their doorGetty
To help ease any worries, debt advice service DebtBuffer has collated a guide on all you need to know about the miserable business.
Some of the advice covers scenarios where your car cannot be towed away by a bailiff.
The first is ‘a vehicle displaying a disabled badge, or which is obviously used by a disabled person.’
Second, is ‘any camper van, caravan, houseboat or similar vehicle which is also someone’s main home.’
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The third is pretty specific, but will apply to some: ‘if your vehicle is essential for your job (if you’re a taxi driver, for example) and is worth less than £1,350.’
Fourth is ‘a vehicle which is subject to a logbook loan where the last payment to the finance agreement hasn’t been made.’
A logbook loan is a loan that is specifically secured against the vehicle itself.
Lastly, bailiffs can’t take your car if it is on a Motability scheme.
READ MORE ON MOTABILITY
The guide also explains the difference between a bailiff and a debt collector.
‘Debt collectors are typically employed to recover debts related to consumer credit, such as loans, overdrafts, credit cards or utility arrears, although they can also work on behalf of your local council, the DVLA and HM Revenue and Customers.
‘A debt collector or debt collection agency has no special legal powers or rights to recover debts, enter your property or take anything you own.
‘It’s unusual for them to visit your home.’
‘Bailiffs will typically be sent to your property to enforce a judgement after a court action, and usually if you’ve not met the agreement set in court.
‘Bailiffs have legal powers to collect a debt including the right to visit your property, and to remove and sell your goods to pay off the money you owe.
‘They may be able to force entry into your property, but this is only to recover specific types of debt, and is relatively rare.’