Paid off your car in Washington? How the lien comes off the title
Washington DOL says the lienholder usually sends it everything needed to remove the lienholder's name from your vehicle record after payoff. If it does not, you take either a completed Affidavit of Loss/Release of Interest with the lienholder's notarized signature, or the current Washington title with the lienholder's releasing signature, to a vehicle licensing office. State law also requires a secured party to assign the title or apply for a new title within ten days after the owner's proper demand.
What happens to the title in Washington
Electronic lien status not verified
Washington DOL says the lienholder usually sends it everything needed to remove the lienholder's name from your vehicle record after payoff. If it does not, you take either a completed Affidavit of Loss/Release of Interest with the lienholder's notarized signature, or the current Washington title with the lienholder's releasing signature, to a vehicle licensing office. State law also requires a secured party to assign the title or apply for a new title within ten days after the owner's proper demand.
Getting a clear Washington title
Fee: $39.50 for a standard replacement title, or $89.50 with Quick Title.
- Ask your lender to send DOL the release; DOL says lienholders usually do this after payoff.
- If DOL still shows the lien, get either the Washington title with the lienholder's releasing signature or an Affidavit of Loss/Release of Interest with the lienholder's notarized signature.
- Take the document to a vehicle licensing office to have the lienholder removed and a title issued in your name.
- If you made a written demand and the lender did not act within ten days, RCW 46.12.675 makes it liable for $100 if the failure caused you a loss.
Official form: 420040 Affidavit of Loss/Release of Interest
How long the lender has
Washington gives the lienholder 10 days after payoff.
The secured party must assign the certificate of title or apply for a new certificate within ten days after proper demand, and it is liable for $100 to the owner if the failure causes a loss. Source: RCW 46.12.675(7).
Get the Washington lien release finished
Your loan is paid off but the title, the release, or the Washington record still isn't right. We check the path and do the paperwork with you.
- We find the release path for your state and lender from official sources.
- We prepare the lien release or clear-title request, and any state form, for you to sign and send.
- We track the lender and the state until the record shows the lien released.
What your lender says about payoff
Each page covers what the lender publishes about releasing the lien, timing, and contacts.
- Alabama Credit Union
- Ally Auto
- Arlington Community Federal Credit Union
- Bank of America Auto
- Cadillac Financial
- Capital One Auto Finance
- Chase Auto
- Chrysler Capital
- Connexus Credit Union
- Credit Acceptance
- Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU)
- Direct Federal Credit Union
- Exeter Finance
- First Investors Financial Services
- Flagship Credit Acceptance (now Flagship Financial Group)
- Ford Credit
- Global Lending Services
- GM Financial
- Jaguar Financial Group
- Land Rover Financial Group
- LBS Financial Credit Union
- Lendbuzz
- Lexus Financial Services (loans)
- Lincoln Automotive Financial Services
- Maserati Capital USA
- Mazda Financial Services
- Navigant Credit Union
- Navy Federal Credit Union
- PNC Auto
- Regional Acceptance
- Rivian Financial Services
- Santander Consumer USA
- Skopos Financial
- Southeast Toyota Finance
- Stellantis Financial Services
- Subaru Motors Finance
- Tower Federal Credit Union
- Toyota Financial Services (loans)
- Truliant Federal Credit Union
- U.S. Bank Auto
- United Auto Credit
- Upgrade Auto Finance
- Virginia Credit Union
- Volkswagen Financial Services
- Volvo Car Financial Services
- Wells Fargo Auto
The Washington rules behind this page
Recheck the agency page before you apply. Statute copies from third-party sites are labelled.
- Washington DOL: How to remove a lienholder from a vehicle or boat recordChecked 2026-09-28 ↗Title / lien
- Washington DOL: Replace a lost title or registrationChecked 2026-09-28 ↗Title / lien
- Washington DOL: Vehicle titleChecked 2026-09-28 ↗Title / lien
- RCW 46.12.675 Perfection of security interest (Washington Legislature)Checked 2026-09-28 ↗Title / lien
Washington title after payoff questions
- How long does a lender have to release a lien in Washington?
- The secured party must assign the certificate of title or apply for a new certificate within ten days after proper demand, and it is liable for $100 to the owner if the failure causes a loss. Source: RCW 46.12.675(7).
- Will Washington mail me the title after I pay off the loan?
- Washington DOL says the lienholder usually sends it everything needed to remove the lienholder's name from your vehicle record after payoff. If it does not, you take either a completed Affidavit of Loss/Release of Interest with the lienholder's notarized signature, or the current Washington title with the lienholder's releasing signature, to a vehicle licensing office. State law also requires a secured party to assign the title or apply for a new title within ten days after the owner's proper demand.
- What if my lender went out of business?
- If the lienholder's company is out of business, Washington DOL says you can petition a Washington superior or district court to remove the lienholder, giving proof of full payment and the vehicle's year, make, model, and VIN. If the lienholder is a Washington vehicle or boat dealer, you can instead file a complaint with DOL.
- How much does a clear title cost in Washington?
- $39.50 for a standard replacement title, or $89.50 with Quick Title. Confirm the current fee with the Washington title agency before you apply.