There is NO notification system in place for that. However, if the unit is being "hidden", a good recovery agent will check with a dealership for possible new addresses. Sooo, you can get busted at the repair shop.
Yes they can.
It depends, usually the repo man will come to the dealerships and tell them a price they'll repo a car for. The company I work for charges roughly $150 a car, but if we have to go unusually for to get the car the price goes up accordingly. Like if we have to fly out of state to get a car the dealership pays for the plane ticket plus a few hundred.
No, they cannot.
The DEALERSHIP won't repossess the car, but the lender might if you don't make the monthly payments as scheduled.
If the dealership holds the title (Buy Here, Pay Here) then yes. If the bank you financed it with already has the title and you have your tags, then no. The dealership can, however, place a judgment on you for the amount of the down payment.
You can take possession of it for an unpaid mechanic's lien, yes.
Nope. The dealer is completely unaware of your financial situation.
As long as you are in default of something you agreed to in the contract, YES.
You can try, but the moment the dealership finds out (which only takes an instant), they'll reject the trade.
want to know if my car is on a repo list
They don't really need to. If a bank wants to reposses your car, they will hire a repo man to do it. Licensed repo's have master keys from the car manufacturers that can get them into most cars. Do you owe to a bank or to the dealership? The dealership has a key to your car. The bank can work with the dealership in a similar way. If you owe the bank and there either is no dealership involved or the dealership cannot provide a key, they still have options- they can tow the car, obtain a key from the manufacturer, have one made, etc. They normally already have this process taken care of before the loan is granted. Until the car is paid off, it belongs to the bank or dealership. If they are not being paid on a regular basis, they will take whatever measures legally possible to reposes their property. On a similar note, when they come out to repose the car, they have already called the local authorities. This allows them to take the car whenever and from where ever.
A "car dealership" CAN NOT legally repossess a car for any reason unless the are operating as a financial institution (bank/ Lien holder). And they had better be license as a bank if they are. (New York).