Congratulations on your new car! Making the purchase is the biggest step toward owning and operating a new vehicle. However, there are a few more things you’ll need to do to ensure your new vehicle is legal on the road.

After purchase, the next step is registering and titling your vehicle with your state’s Department of Licensing (DOL) or Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The title proves your ownership of the vehicle, while the registration, and the accompanying license plate(s), prove permission to operate it on the road.

Depending on whether you purchased a vehicle from a dealer or a private individual will determine the actions you'll need to take.

If you’ve opted for a WSECU auto loan for a new car purchase, or to refinance a vehicle you already own, a certificate of title or other proof of ownership showing WSECU as the legal owner must be submitted to WSECU within the first 45 days of purchase or refinance. Adding WSECU as the legal owner is important whether you purchased a car, motorcycle, boat, RV or any other vehicle.

If we don’t receive the lien-recorded title within the 45-day time frame, the rate on your loan may be converted to our personal loan rate, which is typically higher. We may also be required to file for the lien-recorded title. If that happens, we’ll work with you to resolve any potential errors with the title transfer, although you will be responsible for any additional transaction fees.

When titling a vehicle after a purchase or a refinance, WSECU must be listed on the title as follows:

WSECU
PO Box 20967
Lehigh Valley, PA 18002-0967

If you purchased your new vehicle from a dealer, the dealer will typically complete your registration paperwork and forward it to your local DOL/DMV after purchase. The department will then register the vehicle in your name, issue license plates and send the lien-recorded title to WSECU.

If there’s a delay in receiving your license plates and registration, contact your dealer to confirm they’ve submitted the necessary paperwork to the DOL/DMV. If they already have, you may need to contact your state DOL/DMV to resolve the issue.

If you purchased your vehicle from a private seller or are titling the vehicle yourself, most states require you to take the title, bill of sale and other supporting documents to your local DOL/DMV. Check with your state DOL/DMV for any other requirements (e.g., proof of emission testing or insurance coverage). Once the department has the necessary documents, the DOL/DMV will then register the vehicle in your name, issue license plates and send the lien-recorded title to WSECU.

If you refinanced from another financial institution, you may need to contact the initial lender to verify that the title was mailed to WSECU. Once WSECU receives the title, we will submit the required paperwork to your state’s DOL/DMV. If you are titling the vehicle yourself, make sure the initial lender mails the title to you. Once you receive the title, you must add WSECU to the title as shown below and provide proof of lien to WSECU.

WSECU
PO Box 20967
Lehigh Valley, PA 18002-0967

Fax a copy of the proof of ownership to 360.570.3539.

Many states are digitizing the lien and titling process. The following state codes are part of that process and must be used when transacting via ELT:

You may request changes to your title for the following reasons:

For registration in another state:  WSECU will process title transfer requests to other states. You must reach out to your state’s DOL/DMV to start the process and pay any required fees. Once we receive the official transfer document and paper title, we will send the paperwork to the local DMV to register the vehicle.

To add/ remove a registered owner or make a name change: Because the title is held by WSECU, we require that all title change paperwork be provided to us along with any DOL/DMV transaction processing fees. WSECU will submit the paperwork to the DOL/DMV for the changes on your behalf.

The last step: paying off your loan and removing the lienholder from the title.

In most situations, your title will be released within 10 days of paying off your WSECU auto loan. If the original title was issued as a paper title, you will receive the title approximately 20 days after the loan is paid in full. If the original title was issued electronically, you will receive a paper title directly from the state within four to six weeks of paying the loan in full.

Your state's processing methods and requirements may also affect the timeline, since some states process titles electronically while others don't. Contact your local titling or registration authority for more information about their processes and timelines.

If you have questions about your title or proof of ownership, contact us by:

• Phone: 800.562.0999 x10591
• Submit your question

As a Washington state credit union, the majority of our membership reside in Washington, Oregon or Idaho. Below are some helpful links to the DOL/DMV websites that will provide state-specific details for title transactions.

• Washington State Department of Licensing
  Phone: 360.902.3900 (TTY: 711)
  Monday - Friday, 9:00 am-5:00 pm
• Idaho Transportation Department
  Phone: 208.334.8000
• Oregon Driver & Motor Vehicle Services
  Phone: 503.945.5000