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Registering and titling your vehicle with your state’s DMV is the final step to owning your new car.

Registering and Titling

Registering and titling your vehicle with your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is the final step to owning your new car.

While the title proves you own the car, the registration is basically permission from the state to operate it on the road and will come to you with license plates to display on the vehicle. Depending on whether you purchased a vehicle from a dealer or a private individual will determine the actions you'll need to take.

Submitting a Title to Navy Federal

Within 3 months of purchasing or refinancing your car, motorcycle, boat, aircraft or leisure vehicle, a Certificate of Title or other proof of ownership indicating Navy Federal Credit Union as the first lienholder must be submitted to Navy Federal. If the lien-recorded title isn’t received within that time frame, your loan’s APR may be converted to Navy Federal’s rate for signature/personal loans, which is typically higher. If Navy Federal files for the lien-recorded title, Navy Federal will debit the DMV titling fees from your account.

Dealer Purchase

  • If you purchased your vehicle from a dealer, they may complete your registration paperwork and send to your local DMV. The DMV will then register the vehicle in your name, issue license plates, and send the lien-recorded title to Navy Federal.
  • If there’s a delay in receiving the title, contact your dealer to confirm they’ve submitted the necessary paperwork to the DMV. If they already have, contact your state DMV to resolve.

Private Seller or Self-Titling

  • 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 a copy of your loan promissory note to your local DMV. Check with your state DMV for any other requirements (e.g., proof of emission testing or insurance coverage). Once the DMV has the necessary documents, the DMV will then register the vehicle in your name, issue license plates and send the lien-recorded title to Navy Federal.
  • If your vehicle is registered in Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New York or Oklahoma, and Navy Federal is listed on your title as first lien holder, please email us a copy of the title to titles@navyfederal.org or fax it to 703-255-7975 or 703-206-4400 within three months of purchase.

Refinance From Another Financial Institution

  • If you refinanced from another financial institution, verify with them that the title was mailed to Navy Federal. Once Navy Federal receives the title, we will mail required paperwork, if any, to your address on file to apply for a lien-recorded title. Navy Federal will debit the DMV titling fees from your account and submit to the DMV on your behalf.

Overseas Purchase

  • Email a copy of the proof of ownership to titles@navyfederal.org or fax it to either 703-255-7975 or 703-206-4400.
  • Navy Federal will hold the copy until the member returns stateside, registers the vehicle at the DMV and records Navy Federal as first lienholder on the title.

If it’s been more than 2 months since purchasing your vehicle and Navy Federal hasn’t received the title, call us at 1-888-842-6328 to notify us of the steps you’ve taken to secure the title and any issues you’ve encountered.

The dealer, DMV or other financial institution should submit all paperwork to:

Navy Federal Credit Union
PO Box 25109
Lehigh Valley, PA 18002-5109

Receiving a Title From Navy Federal

In most situations, your title will be released within 10 business days of Navy Federal receiving your payoff, and it can take up to 7 to 10 business days for delivery of the title or lien release. If the title is electronic or other conditions apply, our letter will detail the process to obtain the physical title and ensure that the lien release is properly recorded. Your state's processing requirements may also affect the timeline, as some states process titles electronically, while others don't. Contact your local titling or registration authority for more information about their processes and timelines.

You may request your title for the following reasons:

  • Temporary Release for Registration in Another State: The title is released to the member for 30 days to allow the member to take the title (proof of ownership) to the local DMV to register the vehicle.
  • Temporary Release to Add or Delete Name(s): The title is released to the member for 30 days to allow the member to take the title (proof of ownership) and any form required by that state to the local DMV to add or delete a name from the title.
  • Lien Release: This release is for a loan that is paid in full and has Navy Federal still listed as lien holder with the state. This document certifies that there’s no outstanding secured obligation by Navy Federal.

Questions About Title/Proof of Ownership

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