Oklahoma Form FL-797, the Lien Release Affidavit Letter, clears a lien from a vehicle, boat, or outboard motor title when the lender cannot or will not provide the standard release paperwork. Service Oklahoma accepts it as a fallback after a lienholder has closed, merged with another company, or otherwise become unreachable. Until a valid release reaches the state, the lien stays active in Oklahoma’s motor vehicle system no matter how long ago the debt was paid.1Service Oklahoma. Vehicle Titles
When FL-797 Is the Right Form
The standard way to release a lien is for the lender to sign and return the release copy of the original Lien Entry Form, or to provide a certified duplicate of that paperwork.2Cornell Law Institute. Oklahoma Code 260:135-7-232 – Releasing Lien FL-797 exists for the situations where none of that is possible. Typical cases include a finance company that has gone out of business, a bank that merged and lost the original lien records, or a private seller who financed the deal and can no longer be found.
The form covers any titled asset in Oklahoma’s motor vehicle system: cars, trucks, motorcycles, boats, and outboard motors. If your title shows an active lien and the lender’s normal release documents are unavailable, this is the path forward.
The Four Required Fields
Oklahoma law requires FL-797 to contain four specific pieces of information. If any are missing, Service Oklahoma will reject the form.3Service Oklahoma. Oklahoma Form FL-797 Lien Release Affidavit Letter
- Name of the secured party. This is the lender or lienholder listed on the title. If the original lender was acquired through a merger, succession papers proving the new entity’s authority must be attached.
- Name of the debtor. Use the name of the borrower shown on the lien. For a leased vehicle, list the lessor (the leasing company), not the lessee.
- Vehicle identification number. Use the VIN for a car or truck, the hull identification number for a boat, or the serial number for an outboard motor.
- Notarized signature. A representative authorized to act for the secured party must sign in front of a notary public, who applies a seal. A signature without notarization will not be accepted.4Oklahoma Tax Commission. Motor Vehicle Division Affidavit of Lien Release
How to Complete It
The form is a one-page PDF available from Service Oklahoma’s website. All entries must be typed; handwritten information is not accepted.3Service Oklahoma. Oklahoma Form FL-797 Lien Release Affidavit Letter Download it, fill in the four fields on a computer or typewriter, print it, and have the secured party’s representative sign it before a notary.
The debtor name and VIN must match your existing title exactly. Small discrepancies cause processing delays. If the vehicle was leased, list the leasing company as the debtor. If the lender merged into another institution, gather the succession or merger documentation before you file, because it must travel with the form.
Service Oklahoma wants the original signed and notarized document. A fax may be accepted if it clearly originated from the lienholder’s office. Photocopies and scanned email attachments do not qualify.
Where to Submit It and What It Costs
There is no fee to release a lien in Service Oklahoma’s records. You have two ways to file:1Service Oklahoma. Vehicle Titles
- By mail, to Service Oklahoma, Motor Vehicle Liens, P.O. Box 26800, Oklahoma City, OK 73126.
- In person, at the Service Oklahoma Licensing Office on N. Classen Boulevard in Oklahoma City, or at any licensed tag agent in the state.
Keep a copy before you send the original. Service Oklahoma processes the release and updates its records, but does not automatically send a confirmation notice.
Getting a Paper Title Without the Lien Listed
Clearing the lien in Service Oklahoma’s system and holding a printed title without the old lender’s name are two different things. After the release is processed, your existing paper title still shows the original lienholder. To get a replacement title without the lien printed on it, bring your current title and the release documentation to a Service Oklahoma licensing office or a licensed tag agent and pay $11.00; the new title is issued on the spot.1Service Oklahoma. Vehicle Titles
If you are not selling or transferring the vehicle, you can skip the replacement title. State records will show no active lien even if your paper copy still lists the old lender.
What If the Lien Was Filed Electronically
Many Oklahoma lienholders now file liens through the OkCARS electronic system rather than on paper. When a lien was filed electronically, the lender can release it directly through OkCARS without any paperwork passing through you, and you can then request that the electronic title be reissued in your name with no lien.5Service Oklahoma. Electronic Titles
Service Oklahoma does not tell owners when an electronic release is completed; that is the lender’s job. If you have paid off a loan and heard nothing, call the lender to confirm the release was submitted. When an electronic lienholder cannot or will not process the release through OkCARS, a paper release, including FL-797 when nothing else is available, can still be used to clear the record.
Not for Real Estate Liens
FL-797 applies only to titled vehicles, boats, and outboard motors. It does not release mechanic’s liens, judgment liens, or other encumbrances against real property. A mechanic’s lien on a house or commercial property is released through a different document filed with the county clerk in the county where the property sits, not with Service Oklahoma.6Oklahoma County Clerk. Release of Mechanic’s Lien If you came here to clear a lien on real estate, this is not the right form.