How do I find out who placed a lien on my vehicle and what for?

Full question:

I did an Auto Check Vehicle History Report on a vehicle that I own and it shows a lien on it. How do I find out who placed the lien and what it is for? We are not aware of any reason for the lien.

Answer:

Typically, the Certificate of Title for the vehicle lists the registered owner with the lender listed as the lien holder. If the title still shows a lien holder with no "Lien Satisfied" stamp on it, it means they still owe the bank.

This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.

FAQs

A lien reported on an Auto Check Vehicle History Report indicates that a lender or creditor has a legal claim against the vehicle. This often means that the vehicle was financed, and the lender retains a right to the vehicle until the debt is paid off. If the lien is not marked as satisfied, it suggests there is still an outstanding obligation related to the vehicle.