Mechanic’s Lien Affirmation Instructions
Liens of $2,000 or less (Chapter 770 50/1-50/6)
Conduct Record Search to Determine Vehicle Owner(s) and Lienholder(s)
Contact the Secretary of State, Motor Vehicle Records Division, Record Inquiry Section, in writing requesting a title search to determine the owner(s) and lienholder(s)
of the vehicle. A $5 title search fee is required for each vehicle. In the event the Secretary of State did not find information in the vehicle title/registration records, or
the person consenting to or requesting service is not an Illinois resident, every effort to identify the owner of the vehicle should also be made by utilizing the vehicle
identification number to conduct a search through a nationwide, commercial motor vehicle information service and inspecting the vehicle for any evidence of the name
and/or address of the owner or the state of registration. If other such evidence provides information the vehicle is titled/registered in a state other than Illinois, the
motor vehicle department or agency within that state will need to be contacted for written confirmation of the last known owner or lienholder.
Notifications to the Owner(s) and Lienholder(s)
After 60 days has lapsed without service payment, the mechanic lienholder must send a certified letter to the owner(s) and lienholder(s) of the vehicle. The notice must
indicate the last owner(s) and lienholder(s) name(s), year, make and vehicle identification number (VIN) of the vehicle and amount due and owing. The letter shall further
state the intent to enforce a mechanic’s lien pursuant to Chapter 770 ILCS 50/3 unless payment has been received within 30 days and shall further provide the date and
location of sale. The mechanic lienholder also must place an ad in a newspaper of general publication for one day listing the last owner’s and lienholder’s name(s), year,
make and vehicle identification number (VIN) of the vehicle, and amount due and owing. The notice also must indicate the intent to enforce a mechanic’s lien pursuant
to Chapter 770 ILCS 50/3, and provide the date and location of sale giving 30 days notice prior to said sale.
Public Sale
If charges are not paid before the 91st day (60-day lapse plus 30-day notice), the mechanic lienholder may dispose of the vehicle at public sale in accordance with
Chapter 770 ILCS 50/4.
Liens of more than $2,000 (Chapter 770 45/1 et seq. and Chapter 770 90/1 et seq.)
Conduct Record Search to Determine Vehicle Owner(s) and Lienholder(s)
Contact the Secretary of State, Motor Vehicle Records Division, Record Inquiry Section, in writing requesting a title search to determine the owner(s) and lienholder(s)
of the vehicle. A $5 title search fee is required for each vehicle. In the event the Secretary of State did not find information in the vehicle title/registration records, or
the person consenting to or requesting service is not an Illinois resident, every effort to identify the owner of the vehicle should also be made by utilizing the vehicle
identification number to conduct a search through a nationwide commercial motor vehicle information service and inspecting the vehicle for any evidence of the name
and/or address of the owner or the state of registration. If other such evidence provides information the vehicle is titled/registered in a state other than Illinois, the
motor vehicle department or agency within that state will need to be contacted for written confirmation of the last known owner or lienholder.
Notifications to the Owner(s) and Lienholder(s)
After 30 days has lapsed without service payment, the mechanic lienholder must send a certified letter to the owner(s) and lienholder(s) of the vehicle. The notice shall
indicate the last owner(s) and lienholder(s) name(s), year, make and vehicle identification number (VIN) of the vehicle and amount due and owing. The letter shall further
state the intent to enforce a mechanic’s lien pursuant to Chapter 770 ILCS 45/1 or 90/1 unless payment has been received within 30 days and shall further provide the
date and location of sale.
If the owner(s) and lienholder(s) name(s) are unknown, or if the certified mailing is returned as undeliverable, the mechanic lienholder must place an ad in a newspaper
of general publication once each week for three consecutive weeks listing the last owner’s and lienholder’s name(s), the year, make and vehicle identification number
(VIN) of the vehicle, and amount due and owing. The notice also must indicate the intent to enforce a mechanic’s lien pursuant to Chapter 770 ILCS 45/1 et seq. and
90/1 et seq., and provide the date and location of sale giving 30 days notice prior to said sale. Additionally, the mechanic lienholder also must file an Affidavit with the
Clerk of the Circuit Court within the county of jurisdiction. The Affidavit shall indicate the facts of the mechanic’s lien transaction (chronological events of service per-
formed leading up to and including the undeliverable and/or unclaimed notices). Undeliverable is referred to as the final disposition of any mailpiece that failed to be
placed in the possession of the designated recipient regardless of the postal marking specifying the reason for nondelivery.
Public Sale
If charges are not paid before the 61st day (30-day lapse plus 30-day notice), the mechanic lienholder may dispose of the vehicle at public sale in accordance with
Chapter 770 ILCS 45/1 et seq. and 90/1 et seq.
Lien pursuant to Self-Service Storage Facility Act (Chapter 770 95/1 et seq.)
Conduct Record Search to Determine Vehicle Owner(s) and Lienholder(s)
Contact the Secretary of State, Motor Vehicle Records Division, Record Inquiry Section, in writing requesting a title search to determine the owner(s) and lienholder(s)
of the vehicle. A $5 title search fee is required for each vehicle. In the event the Secretary of State did not find information in the vehicle title/registration records, or
the person consenting to or requesting service is not an Illinois resident, every effort to identify the owner of the vehicle should also be made by utilizing the vehicle
identification number to conduct a search through a nationwide, commercial motor vehicle information service and inspecting the vehicle for any evidence of the name
and/or address of the owner or the state of registration. If other such evidence provides information the vehicle is titled/registered in a state other than Illinois, the
motor vehicle department or agency within that state will need to be contacted for written confirmation of the last known owner or lienholder.
Notifications to the Owner(s) and Lienholder(s)
Upon expiration of the allotted rental agreement timeframe without service payment, the owner of a self-service storage facility must hand deliver or send by certified
mail an itemized statement of the facility owner’s demand for payment to the vehicle owner(s), storage facility occupant(s) and lienholder(s). The itemized statement
must include the vehicle owner’s, storage facility occupant’s and lienholder’s name(s); the amount due and owing at time of statement; the date when the amount
became due; and a brief and general description of the property subject to the lien (year, make and vehicle identification number (VIN) of the vehicle). If the rental
agreement contains a notice of denial of access to the vehicle, such itemized statement must also provide the name, location and contact information the vehicle
Printed by authority of the State of Illinois. April 2010 — 1 — VSD 526.12