Lien release deadlines
How long does a lender have to release the lien after you pay off a car?
Every state sets its own deadline, counts it in its own way, and starts the clock at a different moment. This table lists 47 states and the District of Columbia with the deadline as the law words it and a link to the cited statute or agency page. The cited pages are the final word.
Before you count days
How to read the table
The same number of days can mean very different dates.
- Business days are not calendar days. A rule of 15 business days is about three weeks. Where a statute says only "days", we show calendar days.
- Some clocks start when you ask. In a few states the lender owes the release only after your demand or request, so the date of the last payment is not enough.
- Rules change and agencies add steps. Open the cited page and your state's page before you rely on a date.
47 states and the District of Columbia
Lien release deadline by state
Select a state for the steps to a clear title and what to do if the lender is gone. We have not published New Mexico, Utah or Wyoming yet. Ask that state's title agency for the lender's release deadline.
| State | Deadline as written | When the clock starts | Day type | Citation | Electronic liens | Request letter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 10 days after your demand | Only after you ask the lender | Calendar days | Ala. Code 32-8-64Unofficial copy of the statute | Electronic liens optional | Write the letter for Alabama |
| Alaska | Immediately when the lien is satisfied | When the loan is paid off | Immediate | 2 AAC 92.160Unofficial copy of the statute | Electronic lien participation varies; ask your lender | Write the letter for Alaska |
| Arizona | 15 business days after the lender receives payment in full | When the loan is paid off | Business days | A.R.S. 28-2134 | Electronic liens required | Write the letter for Arizona |
| Arkansas | 10 business days after final payment | When the loan is paid off | Business days | Ark. Code 27-14-909Unofficial copy of the statute | Electronic lien participation varies; ask your lender | Write the letter for Arkansas |
| California | 15 business days after payoff | When the loan is paid off | Business days | Cal. Veh. Code 5753 | Electronic liens optional | Write the letter for California |
| Colorado | 15 calendar days after the loan is paid and satisfied | When the loan is paid off | Calendar days | C.R.S. 42-6-125(2)Unofficial copy of the statute | Electronic liens optional | Write the letter for Colorado |
| Connecticut | 30 days after payoff (10 days after a demand) | From payoff, with a shorter clock after you ask | Calendar days | Conn. Gen. Stat. 14-188 | Paper titles | Write the letter for Connecticut |
| Delaware | 30 days after final payment | When the loan is paid off | Calendar days | 21 Del. C. 2339 and 2340 | Electronic lien participation varies; ask your lender | Write the letter for Delaware |
| District of Columbia | 72 hours after the lien is satisfied | When the loan is paid off | Hours | D.C. Code 50-1210 | Electronic lien participation varies; ask your lender | Write the letter for District of Columbia |
| Florida | 10 working days after final payment, for paper titles | When the loan is paid off | Business days | Fla. Stat. 319.24(5) | Electronic liens required | Write the letter for Florida |
| Georgia | 10 days after the lien is satisfied (statute); a DOR page says 5 days for paper titles | When the loan is paid off | Calendar days | O.C.G.A. 40-3-56(a)Unofficial copy of the statute | Electronic liens required | Write the letter for Georgia |
| Hawaii | No lender deadline in the sources we cite | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Electronic liens optional | Write the letter for Hawaii |
| Idaho | 30 days after the lender receives payoff
| When the loan is paid off | Calendar days; business days on some paths | Idaho Code 49-511 | Electronic liens optional | Write the letter for Idaho |
| Illinois | 21 days after the lender receives payment
| When the loan is paid off | Calendar days; business days on some paths | 625 ILCS 5/3-205Unofficial copy of the statute | Electronic lien participation varies; ask your lender | Write the letter for Illinois |
| Indiana | 10 business days after final payment, for a paper title
| When the loan is paid off | Business days | Ind. Code 9-17-5-1Unofficial copy of the statute | Electronic liens required | Write the letter for Indiana |
| Iowa | 15 days after your written request | Only after you ask the lender | Calendar days | Iowa Code 321.50 | Electronic lien participation varies; ask your lender | Write the letter for Iowa |
| Kansas | 10 business days after payment and your request
| Only after you ask the lender | Business days | K.S.A. 8-1,157 | Electronic liens required | Write the letter for Kansas |
| Kentucky | One month after payoff (20 days after your signed written demand) | From payoff, with a shorter clock after you ask | One month | KRS 355.9-513 (as applied by county clerks to title liens); Webster County Clerk title lien page | Electronic liens required | Write the letter for Kentucky |
| Louisiana | No lender deadline in the sources we cite | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Electronic liens required | Write the letter for Louisiana |
| Maine | 14 days after the lender receives the funds | When the loan is paid off | Calendar days | 29-A M.R.S. 705 | Electronic liens optional | Write the letter for Maine |
| Maryland | 5 business days after full payment | When the loan is paid off | Business days | COMAR 11.15.38.03; Md. Code, Transportation 13-108.1 | Electronic liens required | Write the letter for Maryland |
| Massachusetts | 10 days after payoff (3 days after your demand) | From payoff, with a shorter clock after you ask | Calendar days | M.G.L. c.90D, section 24 | Electronic lien participation varies; ask your lender | Write the letter for Massachusetts |
| Michigan | 14 days after the lender receives the final payment | When the loan is paid off | Calendar days | MCL 257.241(3) | Electronic liens required | Write the letter for Michigan |
| Minnesota | 15 days after the lien is satisfied
| When the loan is paid off | Calendar days | Minn. Stat. 168A.20, subd. 1 | Electronic lien participation varies; ask your lender | Write the letter for Minnesota |
| Mississippi | 14 days after the date of satisfaction, for lenders with a FEIN (electronic release) | When the loan is paid off | Calendar days | Miss. Code 63-21-16(14)Unofficial copy of the statute | Electronic liens required | Write the letter for Mississippi |
| Missouri | 5 business days after full payment | When the loan is paid off | Business days | RSMo 301.640 | Electronic liens optional | Write the letter for Missouri |
| Montana | 21 days after final payment | When the loan is paid off | Calendar days | MCA 61-3-103 | Electronic lien participation varies; ask your lender | Write the letter for Montana |
| Nebraska | 15 days after payment is received | When the loan is paid off | Calendar days | Neb. Rev. Stat. 60-164 | Electronic liens optional | Write the letter for Nebraska |
| Nevada | No lender deadline in the sources we cite | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Electronic liens required | Write the letter for Nevada |
| New Hampshire | 30 days after payoff (10 days after your demand)
| From payoff, with a shorter clock after you ask | Calendar days | RSA 261:27 | Electronic lien participation varies; ask your lender | Write the letter for New Hampshire |
| New Jersey | 15 days to file notice with the MVC after the loan is fulfilled | When the loan is paid off | Calendar days | N.J.S.A. 39:10-10Unofficial copy of the statute | Electronic lien participation varies; ask your lender | Write the letter for New Jersey |
| New York | No lender deadline in the sources we cite | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Electronic liens optional | Write the letter for New York |
| North Carolina | 7 business days for electronic liens; up to 30 days for paper titles
| From payoff, with a shorter clock after you ask | Calendar days; business days on some paths | N.C. Gen. Stat. 20-58.4(a) and (a1) | Electronic lien participation varies; ask your lender | Write the letter for North Carolina |
| North Dakota | 30 days after payoff (10 days after your demand) | From payoff, with a shorter clock after you ask | Calendar days | N.D. Cent. Code 39-05-16.1 | Electronic lien participation varies; ask your lender | Write the letter for North Dakota |
| Ohio | 7 business days after good funds are credited | When the loan is paid off | Business days | Ohio Rev. Code 4505.13(B) | Electronic liens optional | Write the letter for Ohio |
| Oklahoma | 7 business days after the security interest is satisfied | When the loan is paid off | Business days | 47 O.S. 1110(B)(1) | Electronic liens optional | Write the letter for Oklahoma |
| Oregon | 15 calendar days after the security interest is satisfied | When the loan is paid off | Calendar days | ORS 803.105(1)(i) | Electronic lien participation varies; ask your lender | Write the letter for Oregon |
| Pennsylvania | Immediately when the loan is satisfied (5-day safe harbor for paper titles) | When the loan is paid off | Immediate | 75 Pa.C.S. 1135 | Electronic liens required | Write the letter for Pennsylvania |
| Rhode Island | 15 business days after the security interest is satisfied
| When the loan is paid off | Business days | R.I. Gen. Laws 31-3.1-22 | Electronic lien participation varies; ask your lender | Write the letter for Rhode Island |
| South Carolina | 10 business days after funds are confirmed good (3 business days if paid electronically) | When the loan is paid off | Business days | S.C. Code 56-19-680, as amended by Act 115 of 2026 (H. 3856), effective Oct. 6, 2026 | Electronic liens required | Write the letter for South Carolina |
| South Dakota | 20 days after final payment is received | When the loan is paid off | Calendar days | SDCL 32-3-44 | Electronic liens optional | Write the letter for South Dakota |
| Tennessee | 72 hours after the lien is discharged (the lienor reports it to the state) | When the loan is paid off | Hours | Tenn. Code 55-3-127(c)Unofficial copy of the statute | Electronic lien participation varies; ask your lender | Write the letter for Tennessee |
| Texas | No later than 10 days after payoff is tendered | When the loan is paid off | Calendar days | Tex. Transp. Code 501.115(a); Tex. Fin. Code 348.408 and 353.405(b)Unofficial copy of the statute | Electronic liens optional | Write the letter for Texas |
| Vermont | 12 business days after a request | Only after you ask the lender | Business days | 23 V.S.A. 2045 | Electronic lien participation varies; ask your lender | Write the letter for Vermont |
| Virginia | 10 days after the security interest is satisfied | When the loan is paid off | Calendar days | Va. Code 46.2-643 | Electronic liens required | Write the letter for Virginia |
| Washington | 10 days after proper demand | Only after you ask the lender | Calendar days | RCW 46.12.675(7) | Electronic liens optional | Write the letter for Washington |
| West Virginia | 15 days after the lien is paid and satisfied | When the loan is paid off | Calendar days | W. Va. Code 17A-4A-8 | Electronic liens required | Write the letter for West Virginia |
| Wisconsin | One month after payoff (10 days after your written demand) | From payoff, with a shorter clock after you ask | One month | Wis. Stat. 342.22(1) | Electronic liens required | Write the letter for Wisconsin |
Lien release deadline questions
- Which states count business days for the lien release deadline?
- Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Vermont count business days (Florida words it as working days). Idaho, Illinois, and North Carolina use business days for some payment or title types. Where a statute says only "days", this table shows calendar days.
- Which states start the clock only when I ask the lender for the release?
- Alabama, Iowa, Kansas, Vermont, and Washington start the clock only after the owner's demand or request. In Connecticut, Kentucky, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, and Wisconsin, the outer limit runs from payoff and a shorter clock runs after you ask.
- Which states set an immediate or hours-long deadline?
- Alaska and Pennsylvania say immediately (Pennsylvania adds a 5-day safe harbor for paper titles). District of Columbia: 72 hours after the lien is satisfied. Tennessee: 72 hours after the lien is discharged (the lienor reports it to the state).
- What does it mean when a state has no deadline listed?
- Hawaii, Louisiana, Nevada, and New York have no lender deadline in the sources we cite. That means we did not find one, not that none exists. Ask the lender for its release date in writing and check the state title record.
Next
Where to go from here
The deadline only matters if the lien is still on your title.
Deadline already passed? Build the follow-up letter, which repeats your request and quotes your state's rule. Then open your state's page from the table above and read its owner steps; some states list a next step for a lender that misses its time.