so how do you obtain a lien release for
a vehicle title a vehicle title has
three important elements on it has the
name of the owner it has the state that
is issued from it also has a reference
to any lien on the title if there is a
lien showing on the title it will block
the DMV from issuing any replacement
even if the loan is paid it could still
be in the system well how does that work
well first identify the name of the
lender or the lien holder on that title
if it's XYZ Bank or whoever it is that's
all the DMV cares about if that loan has
been sold or somebody else has been
making payments the only thing they care
about is who's listed on the title so
you have to identify that first if
you're the owner of the car you can
simply go to the DMV and they'll tell
you if you're not the owner of the car
you might have to go through some other
process to find out the name of the
lender this has to be clear just because
the loan is paid to zero at the bank the
bank might not have notified the DMV it
still could be sitting there determine
the contact information for that lender
they may be moved from the address
that's shown on the title they may have
a different location they may have a
different phone number if that lender
has closed or going out of business or
gone through some type of corporate
restructuring you may have to find who's
responsible now for the assets of that
lender a lender typically doesn't just
close down they typically sell their
assets to some other lender who is now
responsible for issuing documents on
behalf of the original entity there may
be a lien release needed there may be a
letter of non interest needed if the
lender truly has gone bankrupt there
will be a bankruptcy trustee who's
listed to issue lien release letters if
it's a buy here pay here a lot or like a
local dealership where you pay payments
at the dealership and they're closed go
to the dealer who's at those premises
now in many cases the dealer who's there
now is simply a different formation of
that company it might have the same
principles and they could issue a lien
release letter worst case scenario if
you can't get the bank to look up that
loan and they can't find anything if
they issue you a letter of non entry
that means the same thing it means they
have no claim against the car you bring
that to DMV and you'll be just as good
if there is no way to get a hold of any
lender and you can't find anything out
you may have to go through a court
process to remove that lien and clear
from the title almost every state has a
process where if you go to the local
Superior Court or probate court you can
apply for an affidavit to clear a lane
from a title once you have that judgment
in your hand you bring it to DMV
it's as good as a lien release so
getting a lien release on a vehicle is
an important step if it's still listed
in the records even if the account is
paid to zero