LIEN RELEASE: I received a lien release from my financial institution. Now what?

Once you have paid off a loan on your vehicle, your financial institution should send you a lien release.  Most financial institutions have a form that they use.  If you are requesting a lien release from your lender, they can complete form MV37A.  

You have three options for lien releases:

1. You are not required to submit your lien release to the Department of Motor Vehicles.  You can attach the release to your original title and provide both documents to a purchaser or dealership if you sell or trade in the vehicle. 

2. You can also bring the release to one of our offices to be scanned into the Department of Justice's system.

3. If you would like to receive a title with the lien removed, you can bring the release and the original title to our office, and we will submit them to the State, formally releasing the lien.  You will then receive a new title in the mail within three to four weeks.  There is a small fee for this transaction.