What Happens When the Repo Man Comes to Your Job?

A DoorDash driver found himself in a race against a tow truck in a viral video that’s left viewers stunned.

The clip shows just how quickly a routine delivery can turn into a repossession attempt, and how far someone will go to keep their car.

DoorDash Driver Outsmarts Repo Man

In a viral video posted by Shamarfor3 that’s making the rounds online, you can see the lengths a company will go to repossess a person’s car.

This repo person was slick, but the DoorDash driver was slicker.

“DoorDash driver barely escapes Repo Truck man,” the on-screen caption read.

In the video, you see the DoorDash driver park in front of the customer’s driveway. Presumably thinking it’s going to be a quick delivery, he walks out of the car with the order and leaves the driver’s side door wide open.

As he calmly walks up to the person’s door, a white pickup truck pulls up in front of the Dasher’s car, and they try to quickly get the sedan loaded up to haul off.

But right when the truck driver puts his vehicle in reverse to scoop up the driver’s car, the Dasher peeps the situation and impressively sprints back to his car. The driver’s side door being open shaved a few seconds off as he was able to dive right in and immediately throw the car in reverse, successfully getting off the tow.

The tow truck driver is persistent, though, and also reverses in a futile attempt to chase the Dasher.

Is This Legal?

Lenders can repossess a vehicle as soon as a borrower defaults on their loan, even after just one missed payment, the Federal Trade Commission states.

In most states, repossession can happen without advance notice, but lenders can’t “breach the peace” by using force or removing a car from a closed garage.

Drivers struggling with payments are encouraged to contact their lender immediately, as many will agree to temporary payment delays, revised schedules, or fee waivers.

If no agreement is reached, a voluntary repossession may reduce fees, but borrowers are still on the hook for what’s known as a deficiency, which is the difference between what’s owed and what the lender recoups from selling the car.

After repossession, lenders may sell the car at auction or keep it, and in some states, borrowers have the right to buy it back or reinstate the loan by paying overdue amounts plus repossession costs. Also, while lenders can take the vehicle itself, they cannot legally keep or sell personal belongings left inside.

Repossessions on the Rise

The driver’s escape comes as car repossessions climb across the country. A July 2024 report from Cox Automotive found repossessions were up 23% from the previous year and 14% higher than before the pandemic.

Federal data shows the trend has continued. By late 2022, 0.75% of all vehicle loans were assigned for repossession, a 22.5% increase from 2019, Axios reported.

Rising costs for cars, higher interest rates, and soaring insurance premiums have left many households stretched thin. Fitch Ratings data shows auto loan delinquencies are now at their highest level in decades, especially among subprime borrowers.

The Human Cost of Car Repossession

For delivery drivers, a car isn’t just transportation—it’s their livelihood. Losing access, even temporarily, can mean an immediate loss of income.

That’s part of why repossession hits gig workers especially hard. A single missed payment can put them at risk of losing the vehicle that keeps them working.

Commenters React

“That wasn’t a repo that was someone trying to steal his car. Repo guys have to check the VIN number before they are allowed to hook the car they are trying to repo,” a top comment read.

“Maybe pay your payments less stress then,” a second person said.

“Plot twist: the tow truck company was the people that ordered the food and sent him to that house. The tow truck driver was slipping,” another speculated.

Motor1 reached out to Shamarfor3 for comment via Facebook direct message and comment.