Based on my research, your vehicle might be considered an exempt asset in TN if you can claim that it is a "tool of your trade," or essential to your ability to earn a living. If you can, then your car would be safe from the debt collector. You should contact a consumer law attorney in your area to determine whether your car would in fact qualify as exempt property given your particular circumstances, or you can call the Collection Complaint Hotline at 888-711-5143 for a free, confidential case evaluation. I am not an attorney so I cannot tell you for sure whether or not your car is exempt or not.
If you have fallen behind on your auto loan, you are at risk for having it repossessed. In some states, a repossession can occur once a consumer has missed just a single car payment and the auto lender is under no obligation to give the consumer a chance to catch up on their loan and avoid the loss of their vehicle.
To learn more about repossessions and about your rights in general when you are contacted by debt collectors, I urge you to purchase a copy of my book, Debt Collection Answers, which I co-authored with personal finance expert Gerri Detweiler. The book is available as a download on this site. You can read the first chapter of Debt Collection Answers online for free.
Please share what happens with your situation in the comments section for this question. Gerri and I are very interested in hearing how this turns out for you, and your experience can help others who are struggling with debt collectors.
