Tips on Buying Cars: Getting a car back from a former boyfriend, 2007 hyundai elantra, travis county sheriff

Question
Dear Mr. Beck:
You answered a similar question, although my circumstances are different.  During the course of my previous relationship, my former boyfriend drove my second car.  The car is and always has been registered to me in the state of Texas.  There is a lien on the car with $6100 remaining.  The payments are current and the car is fully covered by me.  When our relationship ended, I told him he could have the car.  I never signed anything nor did I register the vehicle in his name.  We were never married.  The relationship was 2.5 years.  He has the car in Texas and I am in South Carolina. I have decided I want it back.  The Travis County sheriff's office has advised me to send him a certified letter asking for return of the car within ten days or I will report it stolen.  I am concerned that he will then hide the car.  I don't have a key or the remote.  It is a 2007 Hyundai Elantra.  Hyundai says they can make me a key, but have to have the car present to program a remote...so potentially, I could go to Austin and just take the care, drive it to a Hyundai dealership to get a new remote and then drive to South Carolina.  I guess I'm wondering if that's all legal.  

Answer
Candace,

Thanks for your question and sorry about the delay in answering.  Yes, that is all very legal, because you are the legal owner of that vehicle, not him.  It is not his car, and never has been.  You have full rights to that vehicle and have the right to go and get it at any point.  

Hope this helps.

Thanks - JB