Lien Notations

To note a lien, the following documentation must be presented to any designated County Official (refer to the County Officials Listing for county addresses and phone numbers):

• Certificate of Title or the Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin, properly assigned to the new owner if the vehicle is a new purchase and a completed Application for Certificate of Title*,
OR
• Certificate of Title for a vehicle where the title already exists in the name of the debtor(s);
ALONG WITH
• A copy of the lien instrument. The lien instrument can be in the form of a security agreement, trust receipt, conditional sales contract or other similar instrument. It must list the debtor's name and address, a specific description of the vehicle (VIN, year, make and model), and the lienholders name and address. (Note: For out-of-state Certificates of Title coming into Nebraska with open liens, a copy of the security agreement is not required as long as the ownership of the vehicle is not changing and the name of the lienholder remains the same. (The lien notation fee of $7.00 is applicable.)
• All names shown as titled owners of the vehicle should appear on the lien instrument, but only one titled owner is required to be listed. The lien instrument must contain the signatures of those listed.
• Lien notation fee of $7.00. Please contact the appropriate county Motor Vehicle Office for information regarding acceptable methods of payment.

Once the lien has been properly noted, the Certificate of Title is forwarded to the lienholder for retention until the lien has been satisfied.

To release a lien, the lienholder must, within fifteen (15) days after receiving the final payment, note the cancellation of the lien on the face of the title over their signature and list the date of the cancellation. The Certificate of Title is then forwarded to any county Motor Vehicle Office where they will note the cancellation on the face of the title and record it in their office.

If an Application for Duplicate Certificate of Title* is necessary and the original title contained an open lien that has been satisfied, a dated and signed release from the lienholder on their business letterhead can be accepted in lieu of a signature on the face of the title.

To note a subsequent lien a completed lien instrument must be submitted to any county Motor Vehicle Office. They will then notify the first lienholder to deliver the Certificate of Title to their office within fifteen (15) days for notation of the subsequent lien. Liens are noted on the title in the order in which the county Motor Vehicle Office receives them.

To transfer ownership, all liens that have been noted on the Certificate of Title must be released by the lienholder and by any county Motor Vehicle Office.

If you are attempting to note a lien for an outstanding financial claim on a vehicle that you have repaired or have been storing as a result of a written or verbal agreement with the titled owner of the vehicle, and the vehicle is still in your possession, refer to Storage-Repair Liens.

If you are attempting to note a lien for an outstanding financial claim on a vehicle that you have worked on, or furnished material for, as a result of an agreement with the titled owner of the vehicle and you are no longer in possession of the vehicle, refer to Artisan’s Liens.

(*Adobe Acrobat PDF document.)

Questions regarding Liens can be addressed to Email or by contacting this office at 402.471-3918.

This page last revised 7/14/2008