Ford, one of the world’s largest automakers, has filed for a patent for a system that would allow self-driving cars to block their drivers if they don’t pay their premiums on time, Business Insider reports.

The application was filed with the US Patent Office back in August 2021, but was published by the US office only last week.

Specialty website The Drive notes that Ford envisioned the system as a solution to the problem of drivers who don’t pay tolls and “refuse to cooperate” or try to “obstruct” dealers trying to repossess their cars for lack of payment.

The American automaker actually describes it as a “repossession system” for lease buyers.

How Ford wants to return the cars of bad customers

According to the application filed by the American automaker, the system will first start with measures to inconvenience customers who do not pay on time by turning off some features such as air conditioning, GPS navigation system and radio.

The system can also use the car’s speakers to broadcast a “constant unpleasant sound” while the driver is inside.

If he still does not pay the fees, the on-board computer can even block the driver in his car.

This may sound like science fiction, but Ford actually lists some possible scenarios in the documentation.

For example, the system could lock the car’s doors only on weekends so as not to affect the owner’s ability to go to work and earn money to pay the bills.

In another scenario, the car’s computer can set a “geozone” perimeter around the owner’s home and allow him to use the car only in that zone.

The patent application also states that if none of these measures have the desired effect, the car can drive itself “to a convenient location” where it can be towed by a dealer representative, or even directly to the parking lot of a credit institution.