Where to find your car loan title in person
Your car loan title is held by your lender, not by you, until you pay off the loan completely. To get a copy or to handle title matters while you still owe money, you need to contact your lender directly — they are the legal owner of record. Most lenders have a title department or customer service line that handles these requests, and many can mail you a copy within 5 to 10 business days.
If you need the title urgently and want to speak to someone in person, call your lender's main customer service number and ask for the title department. They can tell you whether they have a local office you can visit, or whether you must request it by mail or online. Some large national lenders like Wells Fargo, Chase, and Bank of America have branch locations, but smaller credit unions and online lenders typically handle all title requests by phone or through their website.
Your state's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) does not hold the title while a loan is active — the lender does. However, the DMV can tell you who the lienholder is if you have lost track of which company financed your car. Bring your vehicle identification number (VIN) and proof of ownership, and the DMV will print out the lien information.
Key Takeaways
- Your lender holds the title while you owe money on the loan, so you must contact them directly to request a copy or handle title matters.
- Most lenders can mail you a title copy in 5 to 10 business days by phone request or through their online account portal.
- If you do not know which company holds your loan, the DMV can look up the lienholder using your vehicle identification number.
- You will need your loan account number and proof of identity to request a title from your lender.
- The title will show your lender as the lienholder until you pay off the loan in full.
What information you need before calling your lender
Have your loan account number ready when you contact your lender. This is the fastest way to pull up your file. If you do not have it, your lender can look you up by your name, address, and the vehicle's VIN, but it will take longer.
You will also need to provide proof of identity — usually your driver's license number. Some lenders ask for the last four digits of your Social Security number as well. Have these details in front of you before you call so the conversation moves quickly.
Write down the exact reason you need the title. Are you selling the car? Refinancing with a different lender? Transferring it to a family member? The lender may have different processes depending on what you are doing next, and telling them upfront saves back-and-forth calls.
How to request a title copy online or by mail
Most lenders let you request a title copy through their website or mobile app. Log into your account, look for a section called "Documents," "Title," or "Account Services," and select the option to request a copy. The system will ask you to confirm your identity and your mailing address. You should receive the title in 5 to 10 business days.
If your lender does not offer online requests, call their customer service line and ask them to mail a title copy to you. Provide your current mailing address and confirm the spelling. Some lenders charge a small fee — usually $5 to $15 — for mailing a title copy, though many waive it. Ask before they process the request.
Keep in mind that a title copy sent by mail shows your lender as the lienholder. This is normal and expected. You cannot transfer ownership or sell the car until the lien is removed, which happens only after you pay off the loan completely.
What happens when you pay off the loan
Once you make your final payment, your lender will remove the lien from the title and send you the original title document. This usually takes 2 to 4 weeks after your last payment clears. At that point, you own the car outright and the title shows no lienholder.
Some lenders send the title automatically. Others require you to request it. Check your loan documents or call the title department to confirm what your lender does. If you do not receive the title within a month of paying off the loan, contact your lender and ask them to send it or confirm they have mailed it.
Once you have the original title in hand, you can sell the car, trade it in, or transfer it to someone else. The buyer or new owner will need this original title to register the vehicle in their name.
If you cannot find your lender's contact information
If you have lost your loan paperwork and do not remember which company financed your car, start with your bank or credit union. If you took out the loan there, they can pull up your account. If you financed through a dealership, call the dealership's finance office — they will have a record of which lender bought your loan.
You can also check your credit report, which lists all active loans and the lender's name. You can get a free credit report once per year from AnnualCreditReport.com, the official government site. The report will show the lender's name and sometimes a phone number.
As a last resort, the DMV can look up the lienholder. Bring your vehicle identification number and proof of ownership to your local DMV office, and they will tell you who holds the lien. Some states let you do this online through the DMV website.
Title requests when you are selling or refinancing
If you are selling the car, contact your lender and tell them you plan to sell. They can tell you the exact payoff amount and may be able to coordinate with the buyer's lender to pay off your loan at closing. This is called a payoff quote, and it is different from your regular loan balance because it includes interest through the closing date.
If you are refinancing with a different lender, the new lender will usually handle getting the title from your current lender. You do not need to request it yourself. The new lender will pay off the old loan and have the title transferred to them. This process typically takes 1 to 2 weeks after your new loan closes.
In both cases, you will not receive the original title until the loan is completely paid off. The title will move from your current lender to your new lender (if refinancing) or to the buyer (if selling), but you will not hold it in between.
Common reasons your title request might be delayed
If your lender tells you they cannot find your file, double-check that you have given them the correct VIN and that the vehicle is registered in your name. Sometimes a title request gets delayed if there is a discrepancy between the name on the loan and the name on the vehicle registration.
Requests can also be delayed if your loan was recently sold to a different company. Lenders frequently sell loans to other lenders, and during the transfer, records can take a few weeks to sync up. If this is the case, ask your original lender for the contact information of the new lender and reach out to them directly.
If you have missed payments or are in default, some lenders will still send you a title copy, but others may require you to bring your account current first. Ask your lender whether this applies to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get the original title before I pay off the loan?
No. The lender is the legal owner of the title while you owe money. You can request a copy showing the lien, but the original title will not be released until the loan is paid in full. Once you pay off the loan, the lender will send you the original title within 2 to 4 weeks.
What if my lender went out of business?
If your lender was acquired or merged, contact the company that now owns your loan — your lender should have notified you of this change. If you cannot find contact information, call your state's banking regulator or the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) for help locating the current loan holder.
Do I need the title to sell my car if I still owe money?
You do not need the original title to sell the car, but the buyer will need it after the loan is paid off. At closing, the sale proceeds go to your lender to pay off the loan, and the lender releases the title to the buyer. The buyer's lender or the buyer themselves will coordinate this with your lender.
How much does it cost to get a title copy from my lender?
Most lenders mail title copies for free or charge a small fee of $5 to $15. Some waive the fee if you request it online. Call your lender and ask about their fee before requesting a copy.
Can the DMV send me a title copy?
The DMV can send you a copy of the vehicle registration, but not the title itself. The title is held by your lender. The DMV can tell you who the lienholder is if you have lost that information, and you can then contact the lender directly.