If a car loan lender can't repossess a vehicle, it will probably get possession of the car through a process called "replevin." While repossession does not involve a formal process in court, replevin consists of getting the court to order the consumer to return the vehicle to the lender.If you default on your car loan payments, the lender can take your car back through repossession or replevin. Learn the difference. When someone takes your property wrongly and refuses to give it back, you can file a replevin action. The process of starting a replevin action usually begins with filing a complaint. Replevin is available to a party seeking the return of goods pursuant to a court order directing a party to return the goods or collateral to you. Once you've filed the petition, the court will review your case and, if it finds merit, issue a writ of replevin. The car is the collateral for the loan, and you give the lender a security interest in the vehicle. They can also be used if the debtor is hiding the collateral or keeping it locked up.