(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.