(1) If a borrower fails to repay all amounts legally due under the title loan agreement on or before the end of the title loan’s maturity date or any extension of such date and fails to make a payment on the loan within 30 days after the end of the loan’s maturity date or any extension of such date, whichever is later, the title loan lender may take possession of the titled personal property. A lender may take possession of the titled personal property only through an agent who is licensed by the state to repossess motor vehicles.

(2) Prior to engaging a repossession agent, the lender shall afford the debtor an opportunity to make the titled personal property available to the lender at a place, date, and time reasonably convenient to the lender and the borrower. Prior to taking possession of titled personal property, the lender shall afford the borrower a reasonable opportunity to remove from the titled personal property any personal belongings without charge or additional cost to the borrower. After the lender takes possession of the titled personal property, the lender, at the lender’s sole expense and risk, may authorize a third party to retain physical possession of the titled personal property.

(3) Upon taking possession of titled personal property, the lender may dispose of the titled personal property by sale but may do so only through a motor vehicle dealer licensed under s. 320.27. At least 10 days prior to sale, the lender shall notify the borrower of the date, time, and place of the sale and provide the borrower with a written accounting of the principal amount due on the title loan, interest accrued through the date the lender takes possession of the titled personal property, and any reasonable expenses incurred to date by the lender in taking possession of, preparing for sale, and selling the titled personal property. At any time prior to such sale, the lender shall permit the borrower to redeem the titled personal property by tendering a money order or certified check for the principal amount of the title loan, interest accrued through the date the lender takes possession, and any reasonable expenses incurred to date by the lender in taking possession of, preparing for sale, and selling the titled personal property. Nothing in this act nor in any title loan agreement shall preclude a borrower from purchasing the titled personal property at any sale.

(4) Any such sale or disposal shall vest in the purchaser the right, title, and interest of the owner and the title loan lender.

(5) Within 30 days after the sale of the titled personal property, the borrower is entitled to receive all proceeds from the sale of the motor vehicle in excess of the principal amount due on the loan, interest on the loan up to the date the lender took possession, and the reasonable expenses incurred by the lender in taking possession of, preparing for sale, and selling the titled personal property. The borrower is entitled to reasonable attorney’s fees and costs incurred in any action brought to recover such proceeds that results in the title loan lender being ordered to return all or part of such amount.

(6) The rights and remedies provided in this section are cumulative. Except as otherwise provided in this section, the disposal of titled personal property is subject to the provisions of chapter 679.

(7) In taking possession and disposing of titled personal property by sale or otherwise, the title loan lender shall at all times proceed in a commercially reasonable manner.

History.—s. 11, ch. 2000-138.