A lienholder is a lender that legally has an interest in your property until you pay it off in full. The lender — which can be a bank, financial institution or private party — holds a lien, or legal claim, on the property because they lent you the money to purchase it.

Is the lienholder the owner?

If a vehicle is part of a financing agreement, the legal owner will be the individual or entity that provides the financing, and is referred to as the lienholder. The registered owner is responsible for maintaining compliance with DMV laws and regulations.

What happens if you buy a car with a lien on it?

A lien lasts as long as a car has an outstanding balance on it, so if you purchase a car with a lien on it, you must pay it out in full. After the balance is paid off, you have to contact the lien holder, who will then clear the title. ... Furthermore, the car cannot be bought unless the lien holder gets paid.