About
A "lien" means that someone other than the owner has a security interest in your motor vehicle, motorboat, or manufactured home. This usually is the bank or finance company that loaned you money to pay for its purchase. The lienholder is listed on the title certificate and on the DMV computer records. The lienholder or dealership will complete forms and pay a fee to have the DMV record the lien on your title. As the new owner, you probably will not be involved in filing the lien. The lender cannot charge you the recording fee.
A lien recorded on an out-of-state title will automatically be printed on a New York title certificate unless your New York title application includes proof that the loan has been paid in full.
If a lienholder unknown to you is listed on your title certificate, contact a DMV Call Center.
Add a Lienholder
Liens can be filed with the New York State DMV for all titled vehicles, boats, and manufactured homes (MFH). The lien filing fee is $5.00 per lien filed and is paid by the lender.
Vehicles Sold by New York State Dealers (New and Used)
If the dealer is arranging the financing for the purchaser, the dealer must list the lien on the Vehicle Registration / Title Application for Dealer Sales (PDF) (MV-82DEAL) or Boat Registration / Title Application (PDF) (MV-82B), and in the case of vehicles, the lien box on the Retail Certificate of Sale (MV-50) must be completed appropriately.
If the purchaser is arranging their own financing their Financial Institution must file a Notice of Lien (PDF) (MV-900) with the Department Of Motor Vehicles before the Title is issued.
Vehicles Sold by Out-of-State Dealers (New and Used)
The out of state dealer may record a lien on the Vehicle Registration / Title Application for Dealer Sales (PDF) (MV-82DEAL) under the Dealer Use Only-Lien Filing portion of the application. They may also record a lien by preparing and sending a Notice of Lien (PDF) (MV-900) along with the fee directly to the Title Bureau upon completion of the sale.
Private Sales
The purchaser's Financial Institution must file a Notice of Lien (PDF) (MV-900) with the Department Of Motor Vehicles before the Title is issued.
Collateral Liens
Individuals or companies that borrow from a Financial Institution using their vehicle as collateral for a loan must submit their title and a completed Notice of Lien (PDF) (MV-900) to the Department of Motor Vehicles in order to file the lien. In those cases where the Financial Institution will be filing the lien, the borrower must make their title available to the lender.
Electronic Lien Transfer (ELT) System
Lienholders can register with the DMV's ELT system in order to record liens electronically. The Electronic Lien Transfer Program Business User Manual (PDF) (ELT-1) has more information about how lienholders can sign up to the ELT system and use it to file liens.
Checking If Your Lien Has Been Added
If you want to see the status of the title or if the lien has been added, you can check the title and lien status.
Please note: The above is only a general outline of the lien filing procedure. For in-depth information about this topic refer to Vehicle, Boat and Manufactured Home Title Program (PDF) (MV-909).
Remove a Lienholder
PLEASE NOTE: When you sell a vehicle, you do not need to remove a lien from the certificate of title. You can give the original title and the original lien release to the buyer. If you want to get a lien-free title, please read below for further instructions.
To remove a lien, you do not need to go to your local DMV. You can mail the listed items below:
- proof that the lien was satisfied (must be the original - photocopies are not accepted)
- your current title certificate (must be the original – photocopies not accepted)
- check or money order for $20.00 payable to "Commissioner of Motor Vehicles"
Mail To:
Lien Release
New York State DMV Title Services
6 Empire State Plaza
Albany, NY 12228-0331
The DMV will mail your certificate of title (that does not list the lien) in 60 to 90 days. The title certificate must be mailed to you; a DMV office cannot give you the title certificate.
Acceptable Proofs That a Lien Has Been Satisfied
Provide the New York State DMV either of the two acceptable proofs listed below.
- Notice of Recorded Lien (MV-901). The lienholder can send this to you. An authorized officer of the lienholder must sign the form and indicate that the lien is satisfied.
- A letter from the lienholder. The lienholder must print the letter on the official letterhead of the loan company, and an authorized officer must sign the letter. The letter must identify the vehicle and indicate that the lien is satisfied. If the lienholder is a person and not a loan company, the letter must be notarized.
Can I transfer a title certificate that has a lien listed?
You can transfer the title certificate and give the new owner the original proof that any lien listed on the title certificate was satisfied. Keep a copy of the proof for your records. When the new owner applies for a registration and title certificate, DMV receives the title certificate and the proof that the lien is satisfied. When the DMV processes the title certificate of the new owner, the lien is removed. If the new owner does not provide the original proof that the lien is satisfied, the lienholder is listed on the title certificate of the new owner.
What if the lienholder has my title certificate?
In many other states, the lienholder keeps the title certificate until the lien is satisfied. The lienholder sends the title certificate to the owner when the lien is satisfied. If your vehicle is registered in New York State and you receive the out-of-state title certificate from the lienholder, send the title certificate to the Title Services Bureau at the address shown above. The DMV will send you a New York State title certificate. There is no fee because you paid the title certificate fee when you registered your vehicle in New York State.
My title certificate is lost and I need to remove a lien. What can I do?
Send an Application for a Duplicate Certificate of Title (PDF) (MV-902) and the original proof that indicates that the lien is satisfied to the address above, or bring them to a DMV office. The DMV processes a duplicate title certificate that does not list the lien and mails the certificate to you. The fee is $20.00. If you request that the DMV remove a lien when you apply for a duplicate title certificate, you can apply by mail or at a DMV office.
SEE LOCATION, INSTRUCTIONS AND RESERVATION INFORMATION FOR YOUR DMV
Is there any other way my lienholder can remove the lien?
If your lienholder has an account with the DMV's Electronic Lien Transfer system (ELT), they can file to remove the lien electronically. If they electronically file to remove the lien, a new title will not be automatically sent to you. You will either need to send in your title, proof that the lien was satisfied, and a fee, as mentioned above, or apply for a duplicate title. For more information about the Electronic Lien Transaction system, please see the Electronic Lien Transfer Program Business User Manual (PDF) (ELT-1).