Clear Title Meaning
Are you trying to sell your motor vehicle? Whether it is an automobile or a mobile home you will need the title. To transfer ownership of the vehicle you will need a clear title. So just what is a clear title? In this article Clear Title Meaning. We will discuss the ins and outs of owning a title to a motor vehicle. We will also look at problems with titles. Problems like: I can’t find my title and there is someone on my title that shouldn’t be.
Clear Title Meaning: The Importance of It
Having a clear title is important. It simply means that you have full ownership of the item that is titled. If you owe against the vehicle then a bank or an individual has an interest in the vehicle. This means they own a part of it with you. Whoever’s name is on the top of the title is the rightful owner of the vehicle.
It would seem if your name is on the title than you own it. However, if there is a lien or loan against the vehicle than the bank does own it in conjunction with you.
How to Know if your Title has a Lien
Under your name on the title, you will see a lien area. If there is a bank mentioned on your title than this would mean that the bank is part owner with you. If you default on the lien or loan, they have a right to the property. When you quit paying on a loan and you default, this process is called foreclosure.
When payments aren’t made typically after 2 to 3 months a bank will start the foreclosure process. This is a slow process, but the bank will eventually gain control of your vehicle that you have a loan on.
Clear Title Meaning: Definition
If you were to look up the definition of a title this is what you would find. In legal terms, a title refers to a document that shows evidence of ownership or legal right to a property, asset, or other valuable item. It is a legal term used to describe the rights to ownership and possession of a property, as well as the documentation that proves those rights. The title may include details such as the property’s legal description, the names of the current and previous owners, any liens or encumbrances, and any other relevant information.
Free and Clear Title
Now if you have a free and clear title you may see a lien on the title but there would be a signature from your bank showing it was released.
You may also have a letter that you received from the bank that you can include with the title. This shows that the loan was paid in full. You typically staple these to the back of the title. This is a lien release.
What happens if you have a title with a lien on it? You know its been paid in full but you have no signature or letter? Well, don’t panic, the first thing you want to do is call your bank. Explain the situation regarding the loan being paid in full. You may need to leave your name and number while they investigate the situation and figure out why the lien has not been released. This can take 24 to 48 hours and a few factors come into play.
Many times, banks get sold repeatedly through the years. This is why you will want to check your titles at least once a year. If you know that you have paid a loan off and you don’t have a release you will want to get this taken care of ASAP. Once a bank gets sold to another owner it can be difficult to track down the records of when the loan was paid in full. Checking your titles once a year will help to make sure your ducks stay in a row.
Benefits of Having a Clear Title
The main benefit of having a clear title is that whoever has their name on that title owns that titled item free and from any debts. You are the sole owner and you don’t have to get permission from anyone to sell the item. You can legally transfer ownership quickly just by signing your name on the title. When you have a lien on the title you must get the bank to sign off before ownership can be transferred.
You may be interested in knowing How Much is My Mobile Home Worth? This article will help you to figure that out if you are looking to sell the home.
Title Search
Now if you have lost your title and you have no idea who owns your motor vehicle or mobile home there are things you can do to find out. Your best bet would be to go to the nearest Bureau of Motor Vehicle with the vehicle Vin Number. At the bureau they will be able to run the vin number and pull the title to see who is on it. From there you can figure out your next step.
If you are looking for your mobile home Vin Number look for the data plate in the home to start.
Signed Title that was Never Filed
If you have a title from a previous owner and they signed off from the title you will need to take it down and file it in your name. Just take the title to your local Bureau of Motor Vehicle or Secretary of State and they can help you. They are use to dealing with titles and no matter the situation they can point you in the right direction to getting a clear clean title.
What is a Clean Title
Similar to a clear title where there are no liens a clean title means no liens and it is in your legal name only so you can transfer ownership. Again if you have a title that is in the previous owner’s name and they have signed off this is not a clean title. You will need to take the title down to your local motor vehicle bureau and file for a new title.
Tip: Need a new title in your name quickly? You might inquire about a Speedy Title. Many local bureaus now have titles that you can get quick. Just pay a small fee above the duplicate title and it will be there quicker. These titles are sometimes referred to as Speedy Titles.
