1. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, the certificate of title may be presented or mailed to the first lienholder named in it or, if none, to the owner. In lieu of the presentation or mailing of the title, the commissioner may maintain a title record in electronic form, and may issue a title upon request of a lienholder or the owner.
2. (b) The commissioner may maintain an electronic title file for the recording and storage of the evidence of any lienholder's security interest. When the first lienholder's security interest is satisfied and released, the commissioner may present or mail the certificate of title to the owner, unless another security interest has been recorded by the commissioner. In lieu of the presentation or mailing of the title, the commissioner may maintain a title record in electronic form, and may issue a title upon request of the owner.

(1957, P.A. 607, S. 11; P.A. 94-189, S. 28, 34; P.A. 02-70, S. 6; P.A. 12-81, S. 16.)

History: P.A. 94-189 amended section by providing that the certificate could be “presented” as well as mailed, effective July 1, 1994; P.A. 02-70 designated existing provision as Subsec. (a), adding an exception therein, and added Subsec. (b) authorizing commissioner to maintain an electronic title file for recording and storage of evidence of any lienholder's security interest and requiring commissioner to present or mail title certificate to owner when first lienholder's security interest is satisfied and released, effective July 1, 2002; P.A. 12-81 amended Subsec. (a) to permit, rather than require, presentation or mailing of title certificate and add provision authorizing commissioner in lieu of such presentation or mailing to maintain title record in electronic form and issue title upon request of lienholder or owner and amended Subsec. (b) to permit, rather than require, presentation or mailing of title certificate and add provision authorizing commissioner in lieu of such presentation or mailing to maintain title record in electronic form and issue title upon request of owner, effective July 1, 2012.