VA · STATE PROCESS
Virginia: from final payment to clear title.
The Virginia guide below works one post-payoff title problem back through the state's documents and release process.
DMV SNAPSHOT
- Title system
- Virginia uses an Electronic Lien Program for most participating lenders, while nonparticipating lenders can still hold and manually release a paper title.
- After payoff
- For an electronic lien, the lender sends DMV a lien-satisfied message and DMV mails a new title showing no active lien. For a non-electronic lien, the lender signs and dates the lien-satisfaction section and mails the title directly to the owner.
- Lien release
- Virginia's electronic release removes the lien from DMV records. A manual release on the paper title does not by itself clear DMV's database; the owner must apply for a substitute title to remove the lien from the state record.
- Owner action
- If your lender used the electronic program, keep your DMV address current and watch for the new title. If the lender manually released a paper title, Virginia urges owners to take it to a DMV customer service center and obtain a substitute title with the lien removed from DMV records.
- Timing
- Virginia DMV says the lender has 10 days after payoff to notify the borrower and send the satisfied title, and advises calling DMV if an electronic-lien borrower does not receive the title within seven business days of paying off the loan.