Change of Legal Owner

A legal owner is someone holding a security interest in a vehicle. Legal owner and lienholder are one and the same. Change of legal owner for a vehicle may occur when a lien has been paid off or when the legal owner changes (for example when a car is refinanced).

What Must I Do When I Have Paid Off the Legal Owner?

To have the legal owner name removed from the title, you must submit the Certificate of Title to DMV. It must be signed on the designated line by the legal owner. In lieu of the legal owner's signature on the title, a Lien Satisfied Statement (REG 166), Application for Duplicate Title, or notarized statement on the financial institution's letterhead are acceptable (see below).

Remember: The department cannot remove the lienholder until you submit the title to the department to record the change.

What You Need

Any one of the three following options will satisfy DMV requirements for a legal owner release or "sign off". See below for help finding your legal owner.

1. The signature of the legal owner on the title or a notarized Lien Satisfied (REG 166) form.

2. An Application for Duplicate Title (REG 227) completed, signed, and notarized by the legal owner.

3. A notarized statement on the financial institution's letterhead that:

• Describes the vehicle, and
• Indicates that they no longer have record of your lien, and
• States that they have no interest in the vehicle.

NOTE: The lienholder's signature on a Lien Satisfied Statement must be notarized when it accompanies an Application for Duplicate Title.

What If I Have the Title and Want to Get My Car Refinanced?

If you are presently holding the Certificate of Title for the vehicle and want to refinance it, you must:

• Sign on Line 2 of the Certificate of Title to release your interest as the legal owner (see below). DO NOT sign on Line 1 if you are to remain the registered owner(s).
• Give the title to the finance company. The new legal owner's name and address must appear on the designated lines on the reverse side of the title, initialed by the person entering the information. The legal owner will submit the title to DMV to record the change.

What If I Want to Get My Car Refinanced With Another Loan Company?

If you are currently making payments for your vehicle and want to get the vehicle refinanced, the Certificate of Title from the current legal owner must be released on Line 2 and the new legal owner must compete the reverse side of the title showing the new legal owner name and address. The new information must be initialed by the person entering the information. The registered owner will not need to sign, only the new and current legal owners will provide information on the title.

The new lienholder must submit the Certificate of Title to DMV to record the change. A new Certificate of Title will be issued and mailed to the new lienholder.

Can't Find Your Vehicle's Legal Owner

If you have lost your Certificate of Title and there is still a lienholder on our records you will have to obtain their release to transfer the title. Your financial institution may have moved, gone out of business, merged with another institution, or changed its name. If you have difficulty locating the legal owner to obtain a release, try the following resources:

• Your loan documents - they may include your financial institution's main corporate offices.
• Your telephone company's directory assitance or yellow pages.
• Internet yellow pages links to financial institution information.

NOTE: If you have difficulty locating your lienholder (bank, credit union, or financial/lending institution) to obtain a release, try our Financial Institution Listing.

What Are the Fees?

The transfer fee to add or delete a legal owner.