How to Post an Auto Lien on a Motor Vehicle

how to post an auto lien

When you’re in a good financial situation and have the ability to lend someone five dollars or even twenty bucks, you may not stress about it too much. You’re probably not going to require them to sign a contract or do anything that legally binds them to the five or twenty dollars that they owe you. 

However, when it comes to more significant amounts, the same rules typically don’t apply. When you start lending tens of thousands—or hundreds of thousands—of dollars to people, you usually want something in writing that ensures you’ll get your money back or have the opportunity to take action if you don’t. 

Of course, this scenario can play out in your personal or professional life, but it’s especially prevalent in the auto industry. It doesn’t matter if you’re a private lender or a salesperson at a dealership. If you’re providing money to help someone purchase a vehicle, you want to protect yourself in case the individual defaults on their loan, which means you need to post an auto lien

What is an auto lien? 

A lien is basically an insurance policy that protects you as the lender. Merriam-Webster dictionary explains it as “a charge upon real or personal property for the satisfaction of some debt or duty ordinarily arising by operation of law.” 

Keeping that in mind, when it comes to an auto lien, you have the right to a person’s vehicle until they pay off their debt to you. Having this ownership means you get to keep the car title in your name and possession. Additionally, if the borrower defaults on their loan, a creditor can repossess the car, taking it away from the driver completely.   

What are the different types of liens?

When you post an auto lien on a vehicle, it’s considered a voluntary lien. By falling into this category, the borrower is agreeing to the contract and giving you the right to their property if they fail to meet the obligations in the deal. 

However, one car can have multiple liens on it. These types of liens show up for various reasons and typically fall into the “involuntary” category. For example, a borrower may have these additional liens on their vehicle

  • Judgment liens: This lien occurs when a creditor thinks it’s time to take a borrower to court for failing to pay on their loan. These liens are court-ordered. 
  • Mechanics liens: If a borrower doesn’t pay for a specific service, a mechanics loan will likely appear on the car title. 
  • Tax liens: The Internal Revenue Services (IRS) will place a tax lien on a borrower’s property if the person fails to pay taxes on their car. When this happens, the IRS has the right to liquidate a borrower’s assets, including the motor vehicle, to recover what the person owes the government. 

If you’re working with a reliable borrower, these involuntary liens will most likely not show up. But it’s still good to know which liens might appear on a vehicle if your borrower isn’t making their necessary payments. 

Can someone sell a car with a lien on it? 

can you sell a car that has an auto lien on it

Even though you post a lien on a vehicle, your borrower can sell the car with your expressed permission. Providing this wiggle room will not disadvantage you since you have the first right to any money that comes from the sale. 

For example, maybe the borrower sells the car for $10,000, the exact amount they still owe you. In this case, you’ll get every penny from that transaction. The borrower will only walk away debt-free. 

However, perhaps the borrower sells the car for $20,000. In this scenario, you’ll still receive the $10,000 that they owe. But the borrower will get to keep the other half of the profits. Most likely, you’ll receive one check, and the borrower will receive another. 

Additionally, if the borrower pays off their debt by selling the car, your next step is to remove the lien. Then, you’ll need to transfer the title to the new buyer.

Should you use the DMV to post an auto lien?

When it’s time to place an auto lien on a vehicle, there are two paths that you can take. The first is the most obvious: go to the Department of Motor Vehicles Services (DMV) for help. 

You can visit the DMV’s website to find an office that’s near you. All you have to do is type in your city, state, or zip code, and the DMV will pull up its most suitable locations.

From there, you need to drive to the DMV and fill out some paperwork. A representative will give you a title application, which will ask you to provide personal information, vehicle information, and details regarding your lien. After you fill everything out, you just need to submit the application and pay a fee, which varies state by state. 

Overall, this process is nothing new, but it’s still long and time-consuming. It requires back-and-forth, physical paperwork, frustrating wait times, and multiple trips to the DMV if you need to provide more information for your auto lien. 

Of course, if you have an abundance of patience and plenty of time on your hands, this process may not seem too difficult. But if you’re someone who wants a quicker solution, you need to consider the second path to posting an auto lien. 

The best way to post an auto lien

For a more efficient way to post an auto lien, you should use a transportation agency with online services. For example, companies like Barry Risk Management do the same things as the DMV, but their representatives help customers online. 

If you want to post an auto lien through Barry Risk Management, you don’t have to drive to a specific location or fill out any physical paperwork. Instead, all you have to do is contact a representative and provide the information they need. Then, they’ll create the auto lien for you. 

It’s that simple. 

There are no long wait times or constant back-and-forth. With a transportation agency like Barry Risk Management, you can get things done quickly and efficiently. It also helps that Barry Risk Management has over 30 years of experience in the DMV industry, so you’ll be working with an experienced team of professionals who know how to help, regardless of the state that you call home. 

Call 1-888-995-TAGS(8247) to speak with a representative from Barry Risk Management to put an auto lien on a car!

How to Get a New Auto Title

how to get a new auto title

When you own a car, you receive an important document. This document is an auto title, and it’s something that people typically tell you not to lose or damage. Otherwise, it could cause trouble. 

Usually, you safeguard this piece of information the best way that you can, hoping nothing happens to it. But what do you do when the worst-case scenario occurs, and you lose or damage your auto title? 

If you’ve found yourself in this predicament, it’s easy to panic and wonder what to do next. However, if you want to learn how to get a new auto title, this article will provide one easy tip that you can use. 

What is an auto title?

Before learning how to get a new auto title, it’s essential to revisit the purpose of having this document. This information might be old news to some of you, in which case this will be a good refresher. But if you’ve never learned what an auto title is, this definition will explain why it’s so critical to safeguard this document. 

Put simply, an auto title proves that you own your motor vehicle. Without it, you have no way of showing that you possess ownership of your car. 

Depending on the state you live in, the information on the auto title will vary. However, it’ll always include a vehicle identification number (VIN) and the signature of state officials who are in charge of motor vehicles or revenue collection. 

Typically, an auto title will also include the following:

  • Vehicle make
  • Vehicle model or body type
  • Vehicle year 
  • The owners of the vehicle 
  • The owner’s address
  • Odometer reading 
  • The date the title was issued 

Sometimes, your auto title may have more specific information. Yours could provide your license plate number, your vehicle’s weight, a title number, the engine number, the number of cylinders in the engine, and the type of fuel your vehicle uses. Additionally, some states require that you add information about salvage or flood damage. 

Why is a car title important? 

why is a new auto title important

You want a car title because it’ll prove that you own your vehicle—that’s the primary benefit of the document. But there are practical ways where you’ll see this benefit play out. For example, an auto title is important in the following situations.

1. Someone steals your car

If someone steals your motor vehicle, how do you prove that the thief doesn’t own your car? You refer to your auto title. Without this document, the police won’t believe that you possess ownership of your vehicle. 

2. You want to sell your car

You can’t sell your vehicle without an auto title. The buyer will ask you to transfer the title to them to prove they’re the new owners. But if you don’t have your auto title, the buyer is going to walk away

3. Your car gets impounded 

No one likes to hear that their car is in an impoundment lot. In these situations, it’s crucial to have your auto title. If you don’t, your vehicle will sit in the lot until it gets recycled, auctioned off, or taken to the wrecking yard. The only way to prevent any of these things from happening is to have proof that you own your vehicle when you pick it up. 

4. A vehicle is part of a crime after you sell it or before you own it 

It doesn’t matter if a vehicle is part of a crime after you sell it or before you own it. When the authorities come to speak with you, you want to have proof that you didn’t own the vehicle when it was part of a crime. Otherwise, you could draw unwanted attention. 

Types of auto titles

So, you know what an auto title is and why it’s important. But do you know what type of new auto title you need? 

Surprisingly, there are multiple types of auto titles. And before you try to get a new one, you need to know exactly what you’re replacing. Luckily, the list of auto titles is pretty short. 

1. An auto title for a clean vehicle

You need this type of auto title if your vehicle is in good shape structurally. This title indicates that your car has never been in a major accident, and therefore, totaled.  

2. An auto title for a clear vehicle

This title is required if there are no liens against your vehicle. If you’re not making any finance payments because you own your car, you want this type of title. 

3. An auto title for a salvage vehicle 

You need this auto title if your car was in an accident and declared a total loss. With a salvage title, the state is basically saying that you can’t drive or sell your vehicle in its current condition. 

4. An auto title for a rebuilt vehicle 

If you get your salvaged vehicle repaired, you need an auto title that’s specific to your rebuilt car. This title indicates that your vehicle is in better shape or that it may require additional repairs in the future.  

How to get a new auto title

It’s finally time to explain how to get a new auto title. When you get your first one, you either get it from a car dealer or private owner, depending on where you bought your car. 

But when you lose or damage that auto title, you can’t go back to the previous owner or car dealer. Instead, must with the DMV or a transportation agency. 

As you probably know, the DMV is slow. You could walk into their waiting room and sit for hours until an employee finally assists you. If you want to avoid that pain, you should go through a transportation agency. 

For example, Barry Risk Management can help you get a new auto title. With over 30 years of experience in the DMV industry, their team knows how to get the appropriate type of title and make sure it meets all of your state’s requirements. 

The best part is that everything is also online. Instead of walking inside an office, you can simply contact an agent over the phone. Then, a representative will help you get a new auto title all online, in the comfort of your own home. 

With transportation agencies like Barry Risk Management, getting a new auto title is simple and quick. There are no tricks, waiting rooms, or long wait times. You can get your auto title quickly so that you have proof your car is yours.  

Call Barry Risk Management at 1-888-995-TAGS(8247) to renew get your new auto title!