(a) Absence of subsequent liens.--Where there are no subsequent liens upon a vehicle, the following rules apply upon the satisfaction of a security interest in the vehicle:
(1) The outstanding certificate of title shall be mailed or delivered immediately to the owner of the vehicle with proper evidence of satisfaction and release or the lienholder may apply for corrected title to be issued in the name of the owner.
(2) The owner may mail or deliver the certificate of title with proper evidence of satisfaction of the security interest to the department which shall issue a corrected certificate of title without a statement of liens or encumbrances. The corrected certificate of title may also be issued when the outstanding certificate of title cannot be returned and proper evidence is produced that all recorded security interests have been satisfied.
(b) Prior or subsequent liens.--Where there are subsequent liens upon a vehicle or the lien to be released is not a first lien, the following rules apply upon the satisfaction of a security interest in the vehicle:
(1) If the lienholder whose security interest is satisfied has possession of the certificate of title, the lienholder shall mail or deliver the certificate of title, immediately upon satisfaction, to the department with proper evidence of satisfaction and release of the security interest. A corrected certificate of title, containing a statement of the remaining security interests on record, shall be mailed by the department to the person holding the next lien upon the vehicle.
(2) Upon the satisfaction of a security interest in a vehicle for which the certificate of title is in the possession of a prior lienholder, the lienholder whose security interest is satisfied shall, immediately upon satisfaction, mail or deliver to the owner proper evidence of the satisfaction and release of the security interest. Upon request of the owner and receipt of the release, the lienholder in possession of the certificate of title shall mail or deliver the certificate of title together with the release to the department. The department shall issue a corrected certificate of title which shall be mailed to the first lienholder.
(c) Penalties.--
(1) Any person failing to deliver upon demand a satisfied certificate of title as required by subsection (a)(1) is guilty of a summary offense and shall, upon conviction, for a first offense be sentenced to pay a fine of $50 and for a subsequent offense be sentenced to pay a fine of $100.
(2) Any person failing to return to the department a certificate of title where there are other liens, for correction and delivery, as required by subsection (b) is guilty of a summary offense and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine of $100.
(3) No person shall be deemed guilty of a violation of this section if the person delivers the certificate of title to the department within five days of the satisfaction of the lien.
(June 8, 2001, P.L.123, No.18, eff. July 1, 2001)
2001 Amendment. Act 18 amended subsec. (a)(2).
Cross References. Section 1135 is referred to in section 7508 of this title.
Structure Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Chapter 11 - Certificate of Title and Security Interests
Section 1101 - Certificate of title required
Section 1102 - Vehicles not requiring certificate of title
Section 1103 - Application for certificate of title (Repealed)
Section 1103.1 - Application for certificate of title
Section 1104 - Examination of records upon receipt of application
Section 1105 - Issuance of certificate of title
Section 1106 - Content and effect of certificate of title
Section 1107 - Delivery of certificate of title
Section 1108 - Registration without certificate of title
Section 1109 - Refusing issuance of certificate
Section 1110 - Duplicate certificate of title to replace original
Section 1111 - Transfer of ownership of vehicle
Section 1111.1 - Transfer of ownership of vehicles used for human habitation
Section 1112 - Disclosure of odometer reading and tampering with odometer (Repealed)
Section 1113 - Transfer to or from manufacturer or dealer
Section 1114 - Transfer of vehicle by operation of law
Section 1115 - Correction of certificate of title
Section 1116 - Issuance of new certificate following transfer
Section 1117 - Vehicle destroyed, dismantled, salvaged or recycled (Repealed)
Section 1118 - Suspension and cancellation of certificate of title
Section 1119 - Application for certificate of title by agent
Section 1131 - Applicability of subchapter
Section 1132 - Perfection of security interest (Deleted by amendment)
Section 1132.1 - Perfection of a security interest in a vehicle
Section 1133 - Creation of security interest for titled vehicle (Deleted by amendment)
Section 1134 - Assignment by lienholder of security interest
Section 1135 - Satisfaction of security interest
Section 1136 - Duty of lienholder to disclose pertinent information
Section 1137 - Subchapter exclusive for perfecting security interest
Section 1138 - Duration of perfection
Section 1139 - Terminal rental adjustment clauses
Section 1140 - Cancellation of certificate of title or ownership for mobile home
Section 1151 - Electronic media system for vehicle titles (Expired)
Section 1152 - Development of pilot program (Expired)
Section 1153 - Administration of system
Section 1154 - Expansion of pilot program (Expired)
Section 1161 - Certificate of salvage required
Section 1162 - Transfer to vehicle salvage dealer
Section 1163 - Transfer to scrap metal processor
Section 1165 - Reconstructed vehicles
Section 1165.1 - Inspection of reconstructed, modified and specially constructed vehicles
Section 1165.2 - Specialized Vehicle Compliance Inspection Advisory Panel (Expired)