Frequently Asked ELT Questions

The following questions and answers relate to the different procedures you should be familiar with when using Virginia's electronic lien and title program. After reading through our Virginia Electronic Lien and Title FAQs, should you still have questions, please call 1 (888) 675-7477 or write to us.

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How do I know if I need to register for the ELT program?

If you currently finance vehicles and/or place liens on vehicles as a function of your business, or if you derive income from those activities, you need to register. If you are named as the lienholder on a Virginia title, you need to register. This applies to vehicle finance companies, credit unions and banks that place 50 or more vehicle liens per year in Virginia. The mandate excludes title lenders because the state law requires them to physically hold a paper title when loaning money on a vehicle title. Vehicle dealerships and lienholders placing less than fifty vehicle liens per year in Virginia are strongly encouraged to register.
What happens after I register for electronic lien and title service with Virginia ELT?

After you register for a Virginia Electronic Lien and Title account with Virginia ELT, we'll provide your business with a unique ELT Identification Number that is used on the Virginia title application form (VSA 17A) when placing liens.
Can I convert a Virginia paper title that I have to a Virginia electronic title?

Yes. Please read the instructions for converting Virginia paper titles to Virginia electronic titles. Write to us or call 1 (888) 675-7477 if you need assistance with this process.
Can I print a title through the Virginia ELT service or must I go to a DMV office?

The Virginia ELT program conveniently allows you to request the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to print and mail the title. Upon releasing a lien, the title gets mailed to the customer (or another address if you choose).
How long does it take for an electronic lien to show up in the Virginia ELT program?

After the title application has been properly submitted to the DMV office it will take three to five days for the electronic lien to appear in your Virginia ELT account. You'll receive an email notification when the lien is in your account.
Can I print the electronic title after releasing the lien?

You have the option to request a printed title from with the Virginia ELT program, but you will not actually print the title yourself. The Virginia ELT program sends a request to the DMV for the title to be printed.
If I'm paying off a lien for my customer that has a paper title, what do I do if there's a lien from another financial institution?

Please write to us or call 1 (888) 675-7477 to speak with an electronic lien and title specialist that can provide guidance for this question.
If I'm paying off the lien for my customer that has an electronic title (stored as an ELT), what do I do if there's a lien from another financial institution?

Please write to us or call 1 (888) 675-7477 to speak with an electronic lien and title specialist that can provide guidance for this question.
I am accepting a trade-in vehicle from a customer, but the customer doesn't have the title. I verified that there is no lien recorded on the vehicle and there is no electronic title. Must I apply for a duplicate title and process the paperwork as usual?

Please write to us or call 1 (888) 675-7477 to speak with an electronic lien and title specialist that can provide guidance for this question.
If there is an electronic lien on a title, must the dealer wait for a paper title to be printed before the ownership can be transferred to a new retail buyer or another dealer?

Please write to us or call 1 (888) 675-7477 to speak with an electronic lien and title specialist that can provide guidance for this question.
I have to do a reposession. What do I do now because I don't have the paper title?

Please write to us or call 1 (888) 675-7477 to speak with an electronic lien and title specialist that can provide guidance for this question.
What do I do if there is an error on the Virginia lien and title information that comes from the Virginia DMV into my account within the ELT program?

If there happens to be an error with the electronic lien or title information that was received from the DMV, you have the option to report the errors from within the program to the Virginia DMV.
Who prints the title? Where can I get a printed title? Can the customer print the title at any Virginia DMV office / tag agency?

The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles is fully responsible for printing all titles. Lienholders who have a Virginia Electronic Lien and Title account with Virginia ELT may request a printed title through the program to convert an electronic title to a paper title. Once a lien is released, the title print is automatically requested and mailed by the DMV.