The sheriff has to do this. If a car loan lender can't repossess a vehicle, it will probably get possession of the car through a process called "replevin."Here is the situation. A writ of replevin has been put in place for defendant to give me back my car and to sign back. The process of starting a replevin action usually begins with filing a complaint. What will happen if a writ of replevin is issued against myself for a financed vehicle that I no longer have possession of? If you default on your car loan payments, the lender can take your car back through repossession or replevin. Learn the difference. 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. A replevin can be filed at anytime if you are hiding the car and won't return it or they cannot find it.