District of Columbia Code Division VIII. General Laws. § 50-1206. Liens shown by application for certificate; entry of lien; collection of fees; absence of liens to be shown; certificate to holder of first lien.

Applications for certificates of title shall state whether or not there are any liens against the motor vehicle or trailer or any equipment or accessories affixed thereto, and, if so, the lien information in the order of its priority, and shall be accompanied by instruments or any other papers necessary to entitle liens to be entered on the certificate. Upon receipt of an application for a certificate and accompanying documents, if any, or on the application for a duplicate, the Director shall compare the statements in the application as to liens with the Department's records and the documents and instruments accompanying the application, and, if such statements are incorrect or incomplete or if any of the liens shown by the application are not entitled to be entered on the certificate in the same order as they appear on the application, the Director shall return all of the papers and advise the applicant of the reasons for the denial of the application. If the statements as to liens are full, true, and complete and all liens shown by the application are entitled to be entered on the certificate in the same order as they appear on the application, the Director shall issue the certificate. The Director shall deliver or mail the certificate to the record holder of the first lien shown on the certificate or his representative, or, if there are no liens, to the owner or his representative.