How do I get a Certificate of title after paying off car? (sale)

[Grace Darroch]

I have paid off my car and received a letter stating my loan has been paid in full. They also told my that WA state maintains an electronic record of the title instead of a paper copy of the Certificate; therefore they have electronically cancelled their lien with my state. I'm trying to get a copy of the Certificate of Title. How do I do that?

[Quantum]

Well your lender had better mail you the title, with lien released.

It will take them a while. Might call to ask, but they have it.

[eskercurve]

Your lienholder should mail you a copy. DO NOT LOSE IT! Otherwise you'll have to pay for it, or have a signed and notarized affadavit of loss and it becomes harder to sell it.

I recently wrecked my car. Totaled. I had the car paid off, so as I was about to search for the title to drop off at the insurance agency's office, I realized I'd lost it. Either I could pay $50 or get the affadavit. Either way, I had to prove it was my car with receipts for maintenance, the original sale receipt of the car from the dealer I got it from, and a signed letter from my old lienholder. Total headache!

DO NOT LOSE IT!

If your lienholder doesn't mail you a copy, the DOT has instructions on what to do next. Google "WA state title replacement"

[VeronikaW]

We had our cars registered in WA, and then we moved to CA, and while there we paid off one of them. We got what I thought was the title in the mail from the bank. However, when we moved back to WA, I took that to the DOL when I was re-registering our cars here, and the guy at the DOL said, "I'll take that and we'll mail you a copy of the title." A few weeks later I got what was actually the title. Very strange.

V. =)

[Quantum]

Originally Posted by VeronikaW

We had our cars registered in WA, and then we moved to CA, and while there we paid off one of them. We got what I thought was the title in the mail from the bank. However, when we moved back to WA, I took that to the DOL when I was re-registering our cars here, and the guy at the DOL said, "I'll take that and we'll mail you a copy of the title." A few weeks later I got what was actually the title. Very strange.

You got the title, but with the (released) lien still on it. They then mailed you a new title with no lien and clear.

It's a good idea to buy a fireproof box to keep important papers in. I have a good safe, but keep it unlocked with a sign on it informing burglars that nothing is valuable inside. That way they can check it and won't take it. And if I have a fire my papers are safe.

[redrum]

I'm in the same boat, I just paid off my auto loan. This is what my loan holder says about releasing the title:

"Please note your state uses an electronic titling system. If the title is not enclosed, we have released our lien electronically and requested the state forward the title to either you or another party directed by you. If you do not receive your title within six weeks, contact your state titling authority directly."

[Quantum]

Sounds like they're skipping a step and having the clear title generated automatically. This saves you the trouble of taking it down and getting the lien title replaced.