Overhaulin'

How can I sell my car that has a lien from the previous owner (who I cannot contact) and my name on the title?

I never was able to pick up the lien release form from the original owner. I do not know his name anymore or how to contact him. Will the lender (bank) release the form to me? and if not what should i do?

Public Comments

1. If the lien is paid off the bank should release it. The DMV will not let you license the car in your name without the lien release.
2. If you cannot get the lienholder to sign off releasing the title to you, you can't sell the car. The name of the leinholder would be on the registration as well as the actual title.
3. What state or country are you in that (you think) you could get title to a car with a lien on it? Normally a lender will hold the title with them listed as lienholder, and when the loan is paid off, the lender signs off the title and mails it to the owner, so it can be titled in the owner's name. Maybe it is registered in your name, but registration is NOT title. What paperwork did you get when you "bought" the car? Did you at least get a bill of sale or something to prove that you bought it?
4. This whole scenerio doesn't compute... you could not have gotten a title in your name without the lien released by his bank! Go back to the beginning, see the person you bought the car from, let him get it released for you.