What If I Need A Duplicate Title Or If My Title Is Lost Or Stolen
A duplicate title is needed if your title certificate has been damaged, lost or stolen. You may apply online or at any motor vehicle office for a duplicate title with no change of address.
If you apply at an office, submit an Application For Duplicate Certificate Of Title , and provide proof of your identity and current address. The fee is $20.00. Your duplicate title will be processed within 72 hours after your application is accepted and will be promptly mailed to you.
You also may mail your application to the DMV Title Bureau, with photocopies of your proofs of identity and address and the $20.00 fee by check or money order, payable to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles.
If you mail the application, please allow added time for postal delivery to the DMV.
Please note: As soon as a duplicate title has been processed, the original title and any prior duplicates are no longer valid and may not be used to transfer your vehicle.
More Info For Replace Your Vehicle’s Certificate Of Title
If you obtained a loan for your vehicle and that loan has been paid off, check with your lienholder first to see if they have your title. If they do not, obtain a signed letter from the lienholder on their letterhead indicating that the loan has been paid off. The letter must also specify the year, make, vehicle identification number , and all titled owners. No faxes or photocopies of lien releases are acceptable. The lien release must be submitted with your application for a replacement title, regardless of the age of the loan.
Note: A lienholder’s signature on an application for a replacement vehicle title does not constitute a lien release.
If the person to whom the title was issued has died, a copy of the letter of administration, court order, or affidavit of surviving spouse and a death certificate must accompany the application.
If you find the original title after the replacement is issued, you must surrender the original to the Registrar of Motor Vehicles.
If the title is mutilated or illegible, you must submit it with the application for a replacement.
Final Considerations About Liens
While its normal to have a lien on your vehicle, there are some key details to remember. For example, a lien on your vehicle may prevent you from selling it, or at least make the sale significantly harder, says Brian DeChesare of Mergers and Inquisitions.
This is based on the fact that you will have to pay off the car loan and gain access to the title before you can sell your car and transfer the title to someone else. You may not have the funds to pay off your car before the sale, and if you happen to owe more than your car is actually worth, youll have to eat the difference.
DeChesare also says that the opposite is true as well: You cannot receive the title for a car when youre buying from someone with a lien until they pay off the car. This makes buying a car from someone with an auto lien a tricky ordeal. However, some DMV websites have a lien search feature where you can find out who has the title for the vehicle.
As a result of these challenges, many drivers just trade in cars with a lien to their dealership when they upgrade. When you trade in your car at a dealership, youll be offered a trade-in value for your car that is hopefully more than you owe. The dealership will take care of transferring the title to its name so it can sell your car to someone else, taking you entirely out of the equation.
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Whats On A Vehicle Title
Several important pieces of info can be found on your car title.
- Your vehicles VIN. The vehicle identification number of a car remains consistent no matter who owns it. It can be used to track ownership, accidents and even repair and maintenance records.
- Make and model info. This includes the cars model year, as well as any additional model information for trim upgrades or special engine options.
- Title number. Used as an administrative tracking tool.
- Date title was issued. Extremely important this is used to track when you bought or sold the vehicle.
- Odometer reading when issued. This is also very important, and its used as a way to verify when you bought or sold the vehicle in question. Verifying ownership becomes vital when a crime is committed with the vehicle, and this info can be helpful to the police if your vehicle is ever stolen.
- Weight class. Typically the higher a vehicles weight class is, the more it will cost for annual registration.
- Full name and address of owner or lender. This might be your home address, or it could be the name and address of the bank that loaned you money to buy the car if youre still making payments.
Is It Bad To Get A Title Loan
Why car title loans are risky Think of car title loans as payday loans’ bully brother. While their interest rates are lower than those of payday loans, which can have APRs upward of 1,000%, car title loans‘ interest rates are by no means low. … Car title loans can also lead to a cycle of debt, the CFPB found.
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We Mail To The Address On The Title Record
We mail your new title to the current address on your title record. If the registration for your vehicle is in your name, you can first change your address online and then replace your title. If you have allowed someone else to register your vehicle, you cannot change the address on your title record online. Please contact the Title Services Bureau at 1-518-486-4714 to update the address on your title.
Note: If you file a request with the US Postal Service to forward mail, there is no guarantee that the USPS will forward your DMV documents to the new address. Please make certain your contact information with the DMV is up to date.
Fill Out The Title Application
An application for a replacement auto title can be obtained from the DMV in person or printed out from their website. The DMVs website will most likely also give specific directions for how to get a title for a car in that state. The application should be completed and mailed in, along with the required documents and fees. In some circumstances, in some states, you can apply for the replacement title online. No matter what state you live in, you will need to supply your name and address. You will also need to know your 17-character vehicle identification number it can be found where the drivers side dashboard meets the windshield or on the drivers side door post where the door latches. You should also be able to find the VIN on your car insurance card, car insurance policy, on your current car title if you have one that is damaged, or on your car registration. Many states require the make, model, year, and color of your car, as well as the odometer reading. If there is a lien holder, their name and address must also be on the title please note that in order to obtain a title loan, there cannot be any lien holders. Finally, you will need to sign the auto title. Some states require that you sign in front of a public notary as a witness. If there are two owners names on the title, then both need to sign.
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Does The Process Differ By State
The process involved in getting the title to your paid-off car varies dramatically by state, with some states taking care of it entirely and others requiring you to do some grunt work.
According to Shinn, in states that require you to do some filing to get your title, your financial institution will send you a lien release and formal documentation that the loan is paid in full. From there, youll take those documents to your state DMV to get an updated title solely in your name.
In other states, once the motor vehicles department is notified, they will automatically mail you the title to your car with nothing required on your part.
To learn the process in your state, visit your states motor vehicles website.
Buying Or Selling A Vehicle
To have your name removed as vehicle owner from the vehicle record after the title has been assigned and delivered to the new owner, a Seller’s Notification of Sale, Form TR-216 may be completed and submitted to the Titles and Registrations Bureau along with the required fee listed on the form.
To ensure that you have proof of transfer of ownership, make a copy of the front and back of the title after it has been assigned to the buyer.
When you transfer or surrender the registration , in the county treasurerâs motor vehicle office, the record for the disposed vehicle showing your name as owner will no longer be the current ownership record and you will not need to file a Sellerâs Notification of Sale form.
IMPORTANT: Always remove the license plate from a vehicle or trailer you have sold or disposed of.
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How Do I Get A New Car Title Or Check My Current Title
We get it, you may have lost your original title or never received one after buying or paying off your car. Unfortunately its going to take a bit of paperwork and a fee, typically less than $20, to get a new title sent to you. The good news is that it can be done through standard channels with your DMV.
These forms are accurate at the time of writing, but you might want to check with your local DMV to make sure you have the most recent forms.
Titles And The Electronic Lien And Title System
The Electronic Lien and Title System stores and transmits title information in a digital format, relieving the users of the system, including state DMV offices and lenders around the country, from being required to warehouse and mail vehicle titles. If your lien holder and state DMV participate in the ELT program, when the lender receives the final payment and the loan has been satisfied, an electronic release of the lien will be transmitted to the DMV, which will take the lien holder off the title and send a hard copy of the certificate of title to you.
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Lost Or Duplicate Title
If youve lost or misplaced the certificate of title that you got from the seller or former lienholder, you can apply for a new one at your local DMV office or transportation agency. What youll need to get a replacement car title can vary by state, but heres an example.
- Sign it
- Have the application notarized, if required by your state
- If your state doesnt require notarization, youll usually need to include proof of identity like your state drivers license
- Submit your application by mail, in person or online, depending on your states requirements
- Pay the application fee
Gps And Car Immobilizer Devices
Lenders may install a Global Positioning System device and a car immobilizer or keep a copy of your keys when you get a title loan.
A GPS device allows a lender to track the location of your car. A car immobilizer allows the lender to shut off your cars starter remotely. Depending on the province or territory you live in, these devices may not be allowed.
The lender may charge you fees to install these devices. Make sure you understand how the lender will use these devices before taking a title loan.
Missing a payment, making a late payment or defaulting on your loan can trigger the lender to activate these devices to find and seize your car.
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What Is The Difference Between A Car Title And A Vehicle Registration In Florida
Although vehicle owners need to obtain DMV car registration documentation and titling certificates before they may operate their motor vehicles, car registration and title documents serve different purposes.
The main difference between motor vehicle registration and titles is that a title establishes proof of vehicle ownership. In comparison, FL auto registration shows that vehicle owners meet registration prerequisites, including the payment of registration taxes and fees.
Obtaining A Car Title
Because your title is the proof that you are the cars rightful owner, youll want to keep it in a safe place. If you have an auto loan, the lender will hold your car title until the loan is paid off. After that, the lender will mail you a copy of your car title.
If you need to get a replacement car title because youve lost the original, the process is fairly straightforward. Most states have a department of motor vehicles or bureau of motor vehicles that handles everything related to automobiles. In some other states, such as Mississippi, car titles are processed through the Department of Revenue. A web search of your states name plus car title will usually get you to the right place to find the instructions.
Depending on your state, you may be able to obtain a replacement car title online, by mail, or in person.
For example, Virginia allows drivers to get a replacement car title either online or in person at a local customer service center. Nevada also provides duplicate car titles by mail or in person at a DMV office.
Requesting a replacement car title online will be the easiest option if your state allows it simply follow the steps on the DMV website. If you have to go in person or apply by mail, then the website should indicate what documents you need to provide. You will generally have to pay a fee, and it may take several weeks for your new title to arrive.
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What Is A Car Title Lien
An auto lien is a note showing that your vehicle is legally owned by another party, in many cases your auto loan lender. In a lot of ways, a lien on your car is similar to a property lien on your home. With a lien in place, the lender has rights to the home until you satisfy your loan in its entirety by paying off every dollar you borrowed, plus taxes and fees.
Once your loan is fully paid, the lien on your car title is lifted, and the title can be released to you. At this point, the legal ownership of the car transfers to you from your lender.
Applying For A Title Replacement
No more paper needed
When you title or register a vehicle in Arizona, your title information is stored electronically and you no longer automatically receive a paper title. You can view your title information in your AZ MVD Now account. Similarly, when you pay off a vehicle loan, the title will be held electronically.
If a paper title is needed, for reasons such as moving out of state, you can use the Title Replacement service on AZ MVD Now.
Paper title replacement online
If you have a paper title and need to replace it, the owner of record may apply for a title replacement on AZ MVD Now. Use the Title Replacement service.
The fee is $4.
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Can I Sell A Car If I Lost The Title
You can sell a car without the title, Kelley Blue Book says. Often, the car title gets stolen, lost, or damaged in one way or another. There are other reasons like finding an abandoned car, bills are owned on the title, or maybe you never got the title when you bought it. If your car title is stolen, it is a good idea to report it to the police.
There are various rules depending on your location and the set of circumstances surrounding the situation. If possible, call the local Department of Motor Vehicles and ask how to get a new one. The DMV website probably has more details, including the cost and stipulations in that state. If that doesnt work, try to explore some other options.
How Do I Transfer My Car Title Registration When I Move Provinces
Youll need to update your license and registration when you move provinces. Although you dont have to update your car title when you move to a new address, it might make it easier if youll be selling your car in the future.
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How To Get Car Title In Your Name
This article was co-authored by Clinton M. Sandvick, JD, PhD. Clinton M. Sandvick worked as a civil litigator in California for over 7 years. He received his JD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1998 and his PhD in American History from the University of Oregon in 2013. This article has been viewed 84,796 times.
A car title is a legal document containing important information about the vehicle and its owners. Whenever a car is sold or transferred to another owner in any way, the title has to be transferred to reflect the vehicle’s new ownership. If you take ownership of a car, your will have to get the title transferred in your name. To do this, gather important information and fill out Department of Motor Vehicle forms. To complete the transfer and get title in your name, you will have to visit your local DMV office, submit your paperwork, and pay a fee.
