Jeep Title Question

[2terpsjeep]

Not sure where to post this, or if it's appropriate here at all, but figured you're all uniquely poised to (hopefully) answer this question...

I have a 2007 JK that I paid off, financed through DiamlerChrysler Financial, back in March 2012. The title I have from the MVA here in MD shows the lender as "DC FIN SVCS AMER LLC." I did some digging and found out that DiamlerChrysler Financial changed hands a few times, and eventually became Chrysler Capital. I contacted them, and for older vehicles like mine, they had me reach out to their parent company Santander Consumer USA. Miraculously, after shooting an email into a complete black hole, I received a lien release letter in the mail a few days later.

I've done all of this so I can try to sell my JK, however I'm running into some trouble because the title (which again, lists DC FIN SVCS AMER LLC as the lender) does not match the name/letterhead for the lien release I have, which came from Santander. Both list a matching VIN, and clearly I'm not still paying off my 17.5yr old Jeep at this point.

I also reached back to Santander asking if they can provide documentation that DC FIN SVCS AMER LLC is now known as Santander Consumer, but like I said - that request is like sending an email into the ether and hoping for a response (I felt lucky/shocked to receive the lien release in the first place).

While not ideal, I'm probably going to have to go to the MVA and try to have them take these two documents and re-issue a clear title, but I'm wondering if anyone else has had this experience? Everything I see online points to DiamlerChrysler Financial no longer existing, and their contact phone number matches Chrysler Capital's, which is who I called to eventually end up with paperwork from Santander in the first place.

Even if I just wanted to donate my JK, it seems that in MD, I'd still need the paperwork to match.

Anyone have any advice? Am I missing something?

Thanks in advance!

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[Janster]

You have the title in your hands?? As far as I know (and my own experiences over the years) - you can totally ignore the lien holder information on the title.
It no longer applies…….
Believe me….If you still owe $ on the loan, they’d never send you the title. The lienholder owns the jeep until you pay it off.

When you sell the jeep - you simply go to a Brimmer or AAA, or other location that transfers titles & licenses, etc. You simply sign the title and the buyer signs the title and it officially is turned over to the buyer.

 

[MaximusTX]

Not sure where to post this, or if it's appropriate here at all, but figured you're all uniquely poised to (hopefully) answer this question...

I have a 2007 JK that I paid off, financed through DiamlerChrysler Financial, back in March 2012. The title I have from the MVA here in MD shows the lender as "DC FIN SVCS AMER LLC." I did some digging and found out that DiamlerChrysler Financial changed hands a few times, and eventually became Chrysler Capital. I contacted them, and for older vehicles like mine, they had me reach out to their parent company Santander Consumer USA. Miraculously, after shooting an email into a complete black hole, I received a lien release letter in the mail a few days later.

I've done all of this so I can try to sell my JK, however I'm running into some trouble because the title (which again, lists DC FIN SVCS AMER LLC as the lender) does not match the name/letterhead for the lien release I have, which came from Santander. Both list a matching VIN, and clearly I'm not still paying off my 17.5yr old Jeep at this point.

I also reached back to Santander asking if they can provide documentation that DC FIN SVCS AMER LLC is now known as Santander Consumer, but like I said - that request is like sending an email into the ether and hoping for a response (I felt lucky/shocked to receive the lien release in the first place).

While not ideal, I'm probably going to have to go to the MVA and try to have them take these two documents and re-issue a clear title, but I'm wondering if anyone else has had this experience? Everything I see online points to DiamlerChrysler Financial no longer existing, and their contact phone number matches Chrysler Capital's, which is who I called to eventually end up with paperwork from Santander in the first place.

Even if I just wanted to donate my JK, it seems that in MD, I'd still need the paperwork to match.

Anyone have any advice? Am I missing something?

Thanks in advance!

I haven't had that experience but I have other issues with titles and getting vehicles registered and the DMV says they can't do it. If I can't the information they need then I use one of the 3rd party title agencies and they usually can get it done without the information. I found ones that also work at car dealerships can do a little more but you may have to pay a little extra.

 

[Figmo]

You have the title in your hands?? As far as I know (and my own experiences over the years) - you can totally ignore the lien holder information on the title.
It no longer applies…….
Believe me….If you still owe $ on the loan, they’d never send you the title. The lienholder owns the jeep until you pay it off.

When you sell the jeep - you simply go to a Brimmer or AAA, or other location that transfers titles & licenses, etc. You simply sign the title and the buyer signs the title and it officially is turned over to the buyer.

I'm sure this could vary from state to state but.....in the 4 states I've lived in since being old enough to buy a car...this is absolutely NOT correct. So quite possibly, also not correct for the OP either.

Where I've live(d) - you DO get the title, and the title has a section specifically on it showing lien holder's name. So nobody else can transfer that title into their name until:
A) You sign it over to them and...
B) the lien holder gives proof that you have satisfied the terms of the lien

His problem is, he doesn't have "B" (well, he does, but since the name's different it doesn't look like he does)

I would try sorting it out with motor vehicle. It's possible you are not the only person to borrow from the original company and they might already be fully aware of the name change and not blink an eye on it.

Worse case, even if I'm wrong, they would then be the experts to ask, "what are my options".

Way more so than me.

(I live in a rural state and can actually CALL the motor vehicle and talk to somebody in the know. But I understand that's not always an option in heavily populated states. Have you checked?)

 

[Dickster]

Each state will differ. Here in Oregon as long as the lien holder has signed tittle the will transfer it. Best thing to do is call your DMV and ask vs the internet. Just make sure you get write down the name of the person and date/time just incase they give you a hard time.

 

[2terpsjeep]

I'm sure this could vary from state to state but.....in the 4 states I've lived in since being old enough to buy a car...this is absolutely NOT correct. So quite possibly, also not correct for the OP either.

Where I've live(d) - you DO get the title, and the title has a section specifically on it showing lien holder's name. So nobody else can transfer that title into their name until:
A) You sign it over to them and...
B) the lien holder gives proof that you have satisfied the terms of the lien

His problem is, he doesn't have "B" (well, he does, but since the name's different it doesn't look like he does)

I would try sorting it out with motor vehicle. It's possible you are not the only person to borrow from the original company and they might already be fully aware of the name change and not blink an eye on it.

Worse case, even if I'm wrong, they would then be the experts to ask, "what are my options".

Way more so than me.

(I live in a rural state and can actually CALL the motor vehicle and talk to somebody in the know. But I understand that's not always an option in heavily populated states. Have you checked?)

exactly. in maryland you get a pink title that shows who the lender is, as soon as you buy the vehicle. then when you pay it off, the lender is supposed to send you a lien release, which you can then take to the mva - which other states call “the dmv” - and have them reprint you a “clear” title with no lender listed. for me though, i never got a lien release when i paid the jeep off in 2012, and now the lender (diamler chrysler) doesn’t even exist. i did get a lien release from santander, hopefully the mva accepts it and prints me a “clear” title.

 

[MarylandMojave]

Don’t go to MVA, go to a tag and title place with the title and release. Explain it there and they should have you apply for a duplicate and it’s mailed in about 10 days.

The post above saying you shouldn’t have the title is not correct for MD. MD is not a title holding State like most others.

 

[LouisvEarlleJT]

Should be able to take the title and the lien release letter into the county clerks’ office and they’ll stamp the title as clean/clear over the lien holder’s info. The release letter should have your vin or some other identifier tying it to the title.

 

[2terpsjeep]

thanks all!

the lien release i have does have the vin, and my name as the owner, which match the original title (issued in 2007). i’m worried that if i apply for a duplicate title, my $20 will just get me another copy of what i already have. i tried this with a different vehicle in the past, also with a long paid off loan, and just got a duplicate copy. not a clear title, with no lender listed.

it’ll probably be a waste of time, but i think i’m going to try the mva. like Figmo said, they “should” be familiar with this scenario, or at least the concept of someone having a title listing a lender that no longer exists, and what to do about it.

 

[MarylandMojave]

The MVA will take longer than a tag and title place. They’ve seen it too. 10 mins vs 3 hours At the MVA

 

[MarylandMojave]

Should be able to take the title and the lien release letter into the county clerks’ office and they’ll stamp the title as clean/clear over the lien holder’s info. The release letter should have your vin or some other identifier tying it to the title.

no such thing in MD

 

[2terpsjeep]

The MVA will take longer than a tag and title place. They’ve seen it too. 10 mins vs 3 hours At the MVA

thanks!

guess i’ll have to do some googling on where exactly to go. i was under the impression that in maryland, besides filling out paperwork at the dealership, you had to go through the mva for all your tag and title needs.

 

[Riverdog]

I had this same issue once in NY. We get our titles here , where as I know some states the bank holds the title until it's paid for. But I had an older title , had lost the lien release and the bank was no longer in business. I went to the DMV office several times, and wasn't getting anywhere. I finally went to a rural DMV office (1.5 hour drive away from home) and explained the situation. The employee there issued me a new title without the lien and I got it in the mail 2 weeks later. I'm sure you'll be able to get it sorted, but it might not be fast. Good Luck!

 

[JoeJeep74]

In Michigan, a lien release is not needed after X amount of years, can’t remember exact number, but if title in hand is 17 years old you are probably in the clear. Maryland I am not familiar with the non state title offices, but I would follow people ‘s advice in the know and go to the non state office. I would also hazard a guess you are not the first person with this issue and with matching vin’s on paperwork all should be well.
As an aside, Michigan in the last 10 years or so went to a keep title state. Paid wife’s car off, local credit union, they said we had to apply for title at DMV. Applied at DMV after clerk there said no other title in the system. One week after receiving title we applied for arrived in he mail, another came in the mail. State refused our application for $20 refund due to “blah blah blah”. So glad the right hand knows what the left hand is doing in Michigan.

 

[2terpsjeep]

In Michigan, a lien release is not needed after X amount of years, can’t remember exact number, but if title in hand is 17 years old you are probably in the clear. Maryland I am not familiar with the non state title offices, but I would follow people ‘s advice in the know and go to the non state office. I would also hazard a guess you are not the first person with this issue and with matching vin’s on paperwork all should be well.
As an aside, Michigan in the last 10 years or so went to a keep title state. Paid wife’s car off, local credit union, they said we had to apply for title at DMV. Applied at DMV after clerk there said no other title in the system. One week after receiving title we applied for arrived in he mail, another came in the mail. State refused our application for $20 refund due to “blah blah blah”. So glad the right hand knows what the left hand is doing in Michigan.

Yeah, I'm going to take MarylandMojave's advice and check out one of the non-State office's and see what they can do for me. Looks like there's one about 15min from my house. On Maryland's self-service website, you can order a duplicate copy without ever talking to anyone for $20 but I'm afraid they'll just send me another copy of what I already have, and I also don't want to wait in line for hours (or take off work to do it) and end up in the same boat. So it's worth a shot checking out a private tag & title company and seeing what they can do. I'll keep the group posted on my experience, maybe it'll help someone else out who may be in the same boat!

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