Credit Acceptance will defer a payment, but only if you contact them before the payment is due and meet their conditions
Credit Acceptance, a subprime auto lender, offers payment deferral as an option when you cannot make a scheduled payment. A deferral moves your payment to the end of your loan — you do not pay it now, but you will owe it later. The process requires you to call their customer service line and request the deferral before your payment date passes. They will not automatically defer; you have to ask. Whether they approve depends on your account history, how far behind you already are, and how many deferrals you have used.
The key difference between a deferral and a skip is timing: a deferral adds the payment to your loan term, while a skip (if offered) might let you miss a payment without adding it back. Credit Acceptance primarily works with deferrals, not skips. Once approved, the deferred amount gets tacked onto your final payment or spread across remaining payments, depending on what Credit Acceptance agrees to.
Key Takeaways
- You must call Credit Acceptance before your payment due date to request a deferral; they do not offer it automatically or online.
- A deferred payment is added to the end of your loan, so you will owe more total money over time because of interest.
- Credit Acceptance will deny a deferral if you are already behind, have used too many deferrals before, or your account is in default.
- If a deferral is denied, ask about a loan modification or hardship program, which may restructure your loan instead of just moving one payment.
- Missing a payment without approval will damage your credit score and may trigger repossession if you fall 60 to 90 days behind.
How to request a payment deferral from Credit Acceptance
Call Credit Acceptance's customer service number on your loan statement or bill. Have your account number and loan details ready. Tell them you need to defer your upcoming payment and explain why — job loss, medical emergency, or temporary income reduction all count. They will ask about your current account status and whether you have deferred payments before.
The call must happen before your payment due date. If you call after the due date has passed, the payment is already late and a deferral becomes much harder to obtain. Credit Acceptance may ask you to confirm the deferral in writing or may send you a confirmation email; keep this record. Do not assume the deferral is approved until you have written confirmation of the new payment date.
When Credit Acceptance will deny a deferral request
Credit Acceptance will refuse a deferral if you are already one or more payments behind. They see a deferral as a courtesy for borrowers in good standing, not a tool for people already in default. If you have missed a payment in the last 60 days, your request will likely be denied.
They also track how many deferrals you have used. If you have deferred two or three payments already in the life of the loan, they may refuse another one. There is no published limit, but repeated deferrals signal to the lender that you cannot sustain the payment, and they will eventually stop granting them.
If your account is flagged for repossession — meaning you are 90+ days behind — a deferral request will be rejected. At that stage, your only options are a loan modification, a settlement, or catching up on all arrears at once.
What happens to your payment after deferral
The deferred payment does not disappear. Credit Acceptance adds it to the balance of your loan, which means you will pay interest on that amount for the rest of the loan term. If your original payment was $350 and you defer it, you might owe $360 or $365 by the time it comes due again, depending on your interest rate and how long the deferral lasts.
The deferred amount is usually added to your final payment, though Credit Acceptance may spread it across your last few payments instead. Ask during the call how they will handle it. This matters because a balloon final payment could be unaffordable, while spreading it out keeps your monthly payment closer to normal.
A deferral does not stop your loan from accruing interest or reset your loan term. Your loan will simply last longer because you have added time to it. If you had 24 months left, a one-month deferral might extend that to 25 months.
How a deferral affects your credit score
A deferral approved by Credit Acceptance should not damage your credit score if you make the deferred payment when it comes due. The deferral itself is not reported to credit bureaus as a negative mark — it is a loan modification that the lender agreed to.
However, if you miss the original payment date before calling to request the deferral, that missed payment will be reported as late. A payment 30 days late stays on your credit report for seven years. So the timing of your call matters: call before the due date, and your credit stays clean. Call after, and the damage is already done.
Alternatives if Credit Acceptance denies your deferral
If a deferral is refused, ask about a loan modification. This is different from a deferral — it restructures your entire loan, lowering your monthly payment by extending the term or, in rare cases, reducing the interest rate. Loan modifications are harder to obtain than deferrals, but they help if you are already behind or have used up your deferrals.
You can also ask about a hardship program. Credit Acceptance does not advertise these widely, but some borrowers have negotiated temporary payment reductions or pauses. These are not may provide and depend on your specific situation and the branch handling your account.
If neither works, contact a credit counselor through the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC). They can negotiate with Credit Acceptance on your behalf and may find options you cannot access alone. This service is usually free or low-cost.
What to do if you cannot reach an agreement
If Credit Acceptance will not defer, modify, or reduce your payment, and you cannot pay, you face three paths: catch up on all missed payments, surrender the vehicle, or face repossession. Repossession happens when you are 90+ days behind, and it damages your credit far more than a late payment does. A repossession stays on your report for seven years and makes future borrowing much harder.
Before that point, contact Credit Acceptance in writing (email or certified mail) to document your hardship and your attempt to work out a solution. Keep copies of everything. If repossession does happen, you have the right to redeem the vehicle by paying the full amount owed plus repossession costs, usually within a short window (often 10 days). After that, the lender can sell the vehicle, and you may owe the difference between what it sells for and what you owe — called a deficiency judgment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I defer a payment online through Credit Acceptance's website?
No. Credit Acceptance requires you to call customer service to request a deferral. You cannot defer through their online portal or mobile app. The phone call is the only way to start the process, and you must do it before your payment due date.
If I defer a payment, will my loan term get longer?
Yes. A deferral adds time to your loan because the deferred payment is moved to the end. If you had 24 months left, deferring one payment extends it to 25 months. You will also pay interest on the deferred amount during that extra time.
How many times can I defer a payment with Credit Acceptance?
There is no published limit, but Credit Acceptance becomes less willing to approve deferrals after you have used two or three. Each deferral signals financial strain, and the lender will eventually refuse. If you need multiple deferrals, ask about a loan modification instead.
What happens if I miss a payment without asking for a deferral first?
The payment is reported as late to credit bureaus after 30 days. Your credit score drops, and Credit Acceptance will contact you about the missed payment. After 60 to 90 days, they may begin repossession proceedings. Always call before the due date to request a deferral if you need one.
Can Credit Acceptance repossess my car if I have a deferred payment?
No, as long as you make the deferred payment when it comes due. A deferral approved by Credit Acceptance is an agreement, and meeting that agreement keeps you in good standing. Repossession only happens if you default on the modified terms.