When you have paid off your vehicle lien in full, the lien holder, usually a financial institution, is obligated to send you a properly completed Maryland Notice of Security Interest Filing (SIF) for your vehicle, or a statement on letterhead from the lien holder stating that the debt has been repaid in full. You may retain the lien release along with your certificate of title until the vehicle ownership changes or you apply for a clear title.
The lien release letter must include:
- The secured party's name imprinted on it (if a business entity)
- Contact telephone number of the secured party
- The name of the debtor (customer)
- A description of the vehicle to include the year, make, model and vehicle identification number
- The date and amount of the original lien
- The date lien was released
- The printed name, signature and capacity of the secured party's representative.
Note: If the lien holder is not a financial institution, the lien release letter must be notarized. If a lien release letter on the lien holder's letterhead is submitted, a photocopy must be made of the driver's license or state issued ID of the owner of the vehicle. If someone other than the owner is submitting the release a copy of the person submitting the letter's ID must also be submitted.
How do I request a clear title?
You may apply for a clear title in person at any of the MVA's full-service branch offices or by mail to the MVA's title file unit. You must submit the Maryland Notice of Security Interest Filing (SIF) and/or the lien release letter you received, plus the current title for your vehicle. No other special application form is needed.
If you do not have your Maryland title, you may submit a completed 
Application for Duplicate Title (VR-018) along with the lien release and required fee for the duplicate title to obtain a "clear" title.
The MVA does not automatically print a duplicate title after a lien is released electronically. You may request a clear title at no additional cost online, using your myMVA account, at a kiosk, or tag and title office. Please note: This is a one-time gratis
title, you will need to pay for subsequent duplicate titles.
Fees:
- There is a fee for printing a duplicate title. However, if the customer returns the existing Maryland title, there is no fee for the duplicate title.
Contact Information:
MVA
Title File Unit
6601 Ritchie Highway, NE
Glen Burnie, MD 21062
For telephone questions:
MVA Customer Service Center: 1-410-768-7000
TTY/Hearing Impaired: 1-301-729-4563
