CA title question
 

My motorcycle has a title with a lienholder listed (when I bought it back in 2000, I financed the purchase through Conseco Finance, who apparently has gone out of business). I paid the bike off pretty quickly after I bought it and I have no idea where the "zero balance letter" is that I'm sure I got from them.

So my question is, how can I get the lienholder scrubbed from the title (legally) in case I decide to sell the bike?

Why don't you start with the DMV? Seems like that would be the place to get your answer. Of course I understand your likely reluctance to get involved with them.

What you said... ;)

Any day I can avoid a trip to the DMV is a good day. Besides, I'm afraid of going down there, wasting half a day standing around and then getting a runaround that I might've avoided in the first place by jumping through whatever hoops I'll need to anyway.

I'm certain that I own the bike free and clear, I just need a title to prove it in case I'm ever asked.

Your credit report will list the loan and the zero balance. I don't know if the DMV would accept that but it's worth a try.

I'm assuming you don't have the title, because if you did, the lienholder's interest should be signed off. Look at the "Requirements after paying off your car loan" section of this page. There's a link to the lenders that shows Conseco Financial Services successor as Greentree Financial Services at (800) 426-4433. I think you need a "Lien Satisfied" document from them. If they can't provide one, I think the DMV has a mechanism where you can post a bond.

Are you a AAA member?
They have DMV offices in them & i have never had to wait in a line.
Also as a plus, there are no dregs of society there.
plus-plus they all speak english

You actually would not have the title if there was a lienholder.

You'd have a reg that shows you as the reg owner, and the lienholder as lienholder.

The lienholder gets the title (showing the exac t same things as the reg), until they are paid off. Then they sign the title and send it to you.

I do physically have the title. It lists Conseco Finance as the lienholder (I'll scan it in and post it if I get a minute). I suspect they screwed up when they sent it to me after the loan was paid off (one of the reasons I'm asking the question). Since they're no longer in existence, I have no idea who to contact or what to do about this.

Dude, read my post above.

That is odd that you have the title. I don't know why anyone with lien on something would give the title. It would be very easy for the vehicle owner to simply sign off on the title releasing the lien. The DMV just looks for a signature, they have no way of knowing who signed it.