What to do when a Harley-Davidson Financial account holder dies
Report the death to Harley-Davidson Financial's HDFS Rider Services at 1-888-691-4337
When an account holder at Harley-Davidson Financial dies, the executor contacts the HDFS Rider Services (1-888-691-4337) to report the death and request the balance as of the date of death. The balance is a claim against the estate: it is paid from estate assets, in the order the state sets, before anything reaches the heirs.
Gather the account holder's full name, date of birth, and any known account or policy numbers before contacting Harley-Davidson Financial.
Death claim process
Follow these steps to file a death claim with Harley-Davidson Financial:
Filing a claim
- The automated account-information line at 1-888-MY1-HDFS gives the payoff 24 hours a day in English and Spanish
- It asks for the account number or the borrower's Social Security number
- Pay off the loan from estate funds, insurance proceeds or sale proceeds; once the payoff is processed HDFS mails the title
- Refinance the balance in an heir's own name so the heir keeps the motorcycle, subject to HDFS credit approval
- Sell the motorcycle; a Harley-Davidson dealer can run the sale through the H-D Rider-to-Rider Financing Program and "assist you with your current loan payoff"
- Surrender the motorcycle if the estate does not want to keep it
- Overnight: Harley-Davidson Credit Corp., Dept. 15129, 5503 N. Cumberland Ave, Chicago, IL 60656
- Rider Services can supply bank wire instructions; the sending bank may charge a fee
- A payoff can be made by personal check, credit card, money order, cashier's check, an insurance check after a total loss, or a business or escrow check
- Eaglemark Savings Bank is the lienholder of record: HDFS tells owners to give the DMV "Eaglemark Savings Bank is the lienholder of the vehicle," PO Box 277940, Sacramento, CA 95827
- If the DMV or tag agency needs the title before the release arrives, HDFS can fax it a copy, requested by fax at 1-800-700-2367 or by phone at 1-866-433-7562
- If the original title is needed for a state-to-state transfer, the DMV or tag agency must request it in writing
- In some cases HDFS releases the original title to a DMV, a later lienholder or another financial institution instead of the owner
- Send an endorsed repair check to Harley-Davidson Credit, PO Box 21790, Carson City, NV 89721-1790, with proof of repair or an estimate and the account number
- Send the request by fax to (800) 699-2785 or by mail to Rider Services
- HDFS states that a co-signer's position cannot be changed
Required Documents
- The Harley-Davidson Credit account numberThe automated payoff line also accepts the borrower's Social Security number.
- The original financing documents, to identify any Extended Service Contract, GAP or Debt Protection plan on the account
What happens to each kind of account2
- Loan
A motorcycle loan is a debt secured by the motorcycle and carries no payable-on-death or beneficiary designation. The estate resolves it by payoff, refinance, sale or surrender.1
The statement balance is the principal balance; "the payoff quote will include accrued interest from the date of the last payment, up to, the 'good through' date on the payoff quote given." A payoff quote is good only through the date stated on it.2
The loan requires comprehensive, theft and collision coverage with a "loss payee" and "additional insured endorsement" disclosed on the policy.2
HDFS states that "the interest on your loan is assessed daily."3
- Debt protection, GAP or service contract
HDFS directs cancellation of an Extended Service Contract, a Guaranteed Asset Protection (GAP) plan or a Debt Protection plan to "your local Harley-Davidson authorized dealership," not to Rider Services.2
Accounts handled elsewhere1
- Eaglemark Savings Bank
Lienholder of record on the title, for the DMV2
Mailing address: Eaglemark Savings Bank, PO Box 277940, Sacramento, CA 95827
What Harley-Davidson Financial's agreement and guidance say1
- Fees
HDFS charges a late fee if a payment is not received within 10 days of the due date.2
Not in Harley-Davidson Financial's published guidance5
- A procedure for reporting a death
- A claim form
- How long a claim takes
- Rider Services hours
- Debt Protection plan document
Sources3
Harley-Davidson Financial's HDFS Rider Services can be reached by phone at 1-888-691-4337 and fax at 1-800-699-2785 for questions throughout the claims process.
Sources
Data sourced from Harley-Davidson Financial primary sources (14 pages reviewed). How we research.
Harley-Davidson Financial death claims support
HDFS Rider Services
Phone
Toll-free
Rider Services document fax
Rider Services document status line
Title copy request (phone)
Title copy request (fax)
Fax
Mailing address
Website
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