Lienholders with Paper Titles

On this page find information on how a lienholder may request to receive a paper title by mail.

Lienholders and security interest holders are generally required to file and release liens and security interests electronically through the Electronic Liens on Title (ELT) program. When Liens are filed through ELT, the certificate of title and the Lien are stored electronically in DRIVES, the Department’s title and registration system, and no paper certificate of title is printed.

Generally, only Lienholders with Liens on less than 5 vehicles titled in Georgia are permitted to record a Lien on a traditional paper certificate of title.

  • Who is required to use ELT?

    Read about the  Download this pdf file. Mandatory Use of Electronic Liens on Title (ELT) Program

  • Mailing of paper titles inside the United States

    If a Lienholder is not required to use ELT and files the Form MV-1 Motor Vehicle Title Application to place a Lien on a vehicle’s title, the Department will mail the title to the Lienholder as described in this paragraph. The Department will mail the title via First Class mail to the Lienholder at the address provided by the Lienholder on the Form MV-1. The Department does not charge a separate mailing fee for mailing the certificate of title to an address in any state of the United States or any of the U.S. territories.

  • Mailing of paper titles to Lienholders outside the United States

    If a Lienholder is not required to use ELT and files the Form MV-1 Motor Vehicle Title Application to place a Lien on a vehicle’s title, the Lienholder has the following options to receive a copy of the certificate of title or proof of the Lienholder’s lien.

    • The Lienholder may complete the Form MV-1 with instructions to mail the certificate of title to the Lienholder, to an affiliate or to an agent of the Lienholder in any state of the United States or Puerto Rico or Guam. The Department will mail the title via First Class mail to the address provided by the Lienholder without an additional mailing fee.
    • The Lienholder may provide along with its Form MV-1 application a self-addressed, stamped envelope with proper postage paid for mailing the title to an address outside the United States. The Department will use the provided envelope to mail the certificate of title. The Department will also accept self-addressed, prepaid envelopes for United Parcel Service (UPS) or Federal Express.
  • Mailing of paper titles after a lien has been released

    If the Department issued a traditional, paper certificate of title and the Lien has been satisfied, the Lienholder should complete the Release of Lien or Security Interest section on the title and mail it to the owner or the remaining lienholder for the vehicle if applicable. 

    Read the details on how to release a lien or security interest.