Vehicle repossession: notice of intent to dispose must be given within 60 days of repossession or surrender to preserve deficiency liability
60 days after date the motor vehicle was repossessed or surrendered, under Cal. Civ. Code 2983.2(a).
Rule text
Except as otherwise provided in Section 2983.8, those persons shall be liable for any deficiency after disposition of the repossessed or surrendered motor vehicle only if the notice prescribed by this section is given within 60 days of repossession or surrender and does all of the following:
Calculate this deadline
Deadline
Tuesday, January 5, 2027
- Trigger (Date the motor vehicle was repossessed or surrendered): Friday, November 6, 2026.
- Exclude the trigger day and count 60 calendar days: Tuesday, January 5, 2027.
Rules applied
Cal. Civ. Code 2983.2(a)
Except as otherwise provided in Section 2983.8, those persons shall be liable for any deficiency after disposition of the repossessed or surrendered motor vehicle only if the notice prescribed by this section is given within 60 days of repossession or surrender and does all of the following:Official source
Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 12, 12a, 12b; Cal. Gov. Code 6800, 6707 (state agency filings); Fed. R. Civ. P. 6(a) (federal statutes and federal court filings)
CCP 12: "The time in which any act provided by law is to be done is computed by excluding the first day, and including the last, unless the last day is a holiday, and then it is also excluded." CCP 12a(a): "If the last day for the performance of any act provided or required by law to be performed within a specified period of time is a holiday, then that period is hereby extended to and including the next day that is not a holiday. For purposes of this section, “holiday” means all day on Saturdays, all holidays specified in Section 135 and, to the extent provided in Section 12b, all days that by terms of Section 12b are required to be considered as holidays." Gov. Code 6707: "When the last day for filing any instrument or other document with a state agency falls upon a Saturday or holiday, such act may be performed upon the next business day with the same effect as if it had been performed upon the day appointed." FRCP 6(a): "The following rules apply in computing any time period specified in these rules, in any local rule or court order, or in any statute that does not specify a method of computing time. (1) ... (A) exclude the day of the event that triggers the period; (B) count every day, including intermediate Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays; and (C) include the last day of the period, but if the last day is a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the period continues to run until the end of the next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday."Official source
- Late or defective notice bars a deficiency (subject to 2983.8). Notice is by personal service, certified mail (return receipt), or first-class mail to the last known address. Rees-Levering Act conditional sale contracts for motor vehicles; does not apply to loans by Financial Code Division 9 licensees (2983.2(d)) or vehicles seized as described in 2983.3(b)(6). Section amended by Stats. 2019, ch. 497 (AB 991).
- If the clerk's office is closed or inaccessible on the last day (weather, emergency or local closure orders), the deadline may be extended. Check local orders.
This calculator applies the cited rules to the dates you enter. It is not legal advice. Court orders, local rules, and case-specific facts can change a deadline; verify before relying on it. Rule set pending attorney review.
Worked example
Date the motor vehicle was repossessed or surrendered on Monday, March 15, 2027, personal service: due Friday, May 14, 2027.
- Trigger (Date the motor vehicle was repossessed or surrendered): Monday, March 15, 2027.
- Exclude the trigger day and count 60 calendar days: Friday, May 14, 2027.
Notes
Late or defective notice bars a deficiency (subject to 2983.8). Notice is by personal service, certified mail (return receipt), or first-class mail to the last known address. Rees-Levering Act conditional sale contracts for motor vehicles; does not apply to loans by Financial Code Division 9 licensees (2983.2(d)) or vehicles seized as described in 2983.3(b)(6). Section amended by Stats. 2019, ch. 497 (AB 991).
Related deadlines
- Vehicle repossession: buyer's redemption (and any reinstatement) period ends 15 days after notice of intent is given or mailed; earliest disposition date (15 days after)
- Vehicle repossession: redemption period and earliest disposition 20 days after mailing when mailed from or to an address outside California (20 days after)
- Vehicle repossession: redemption and reinstatement periods extended by 10 days on buyer's timely written request (25 days after notice) (25 days after)
- Vehicle repossession sale with surplus: return surplus (and accounting) to buyer within 45 days after the sale (45 days after)
- Vehicle repossession: written accounting of disposition due 45 days after buyer's written request (request within one year after disposition) (45 days after)
- Holder: earliest day to dispose of the repossessed vehicle (day 16, after the 15-day redemption period) (15 days after)
Rules current as of 2026-10-27. Confirm against the official source and any local rule or court order before relying on a date. Rules changelog.