Where is that title?
Paper in the safe, electronic at the state, out for a lien filing, or still at the auction. Finding one means checking several places.
Illinois ELT became mandatory on July 1, 2026
Illinois liens went electronic on 7/1/2026. Know where every title stands.
One screen for every title, lien and payoff on your lot, paper or electronic, with alerts before a lien-release deadline slips. We're building it now for Illinois used car dealers and small auto lenders.
Free to join. Plans from $49/mo at launch, with a discount for founding dealers.
| Stock # | Title | Lien | Release due |
|---|---|---|---|
| A-10422019 Honda Civic | ELT | Filed | None |
| A-10382017 Ford F-150 | Paper, in safe | Paid off | In 4 days |
| A-10352018 Nissan Altima | At auction | Not filed | None |
| A-10312016 Chevy Malibu | ELT | Paid off | In 15 days |
| A-10272015 Toyota Camry | Paper, in safe | Released | Done |
The problem
Titles live in too many places, and the release clock is short
Most small dealers track titles with a safe, a spreadsheet and memory. That held up when everything was paper. Now some deals are electronic and some are not.
21 days to release a lien
In Illinois, once a loan is paid off you have 21 days to release the lien (10 business days for cash or certified funds). Miss it and you can owe $150 plus the customer's legal fees.
Paper and ELT at the same time
If you file 5 or more liens a year, Illinois now requires electronic lien and title (ELT). Older deals are still on paper, so you run two systems at once.
How it will work
Three steps, one list
This is the plan for the first version. Early-access members help decide what comes first.
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Add your deals
Enter each financed car with its stock number, VIN and customer, and mark where the title is: paper or ELT, in the safe or out.
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Log payoffs
When a customer pays off, record the date and how they paid. LotLien works out the lien-release deadline for you.
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Get alerts before deadlines
See every open release in one place, sorted by days left, with a reminder before each deadline. Search by stock number, VIN or customer.
Who it's for
Built for small Illinois lenders, not big banks
Used-car and buy-here-pay-here dealers
You finance cars in-house and hold the titles yourself.
- A mix of paper titles and ELT deals
- Titles moving between auction, office and state
- A small office team, often one person, handling payoffs
Small auto lenders
You hold liens on vehicles and need to release them on time.
- Liens on cars sold by several dealers
- Payoffs arriving by check, card or certified funds
- No title department, just a list someone keeps up to date
Straight talk: this is early access
LotLien is not live yet. We are not an approved Illinois ELT provider, and the app does not file liens with the state. Keep filing through your current provider or the state portal. Filing from inside the app may come later. Join the list to help shape what we build first.
From $49/mo
Plans will run $49 to $149 a month depending on how many cars you finance. Founding dealers who join now get a discount. You pay nothing to join the list.
FAQ
Common questions
Can I use LotLien today?
No. It is in development. Joining the list gets you early access when it opens, plus a founding-dealer discount.
Is LotLien an approved Illinois ELT provider?
No. We are not an approved ELT provider and the app will not file liens with the state at launch. Keep using your current provider or the state portal for filings.
Who has to use ELT in Illinois?
Since July 1, 2026, lienholders who file 5 or more liens a year must use electronic lien and title. Check with the Illinois Secretary of State or your ELT provider for the rules that apply to you.
How long do I have to release a lien after payoff?
21 days in most cases, or 10 business days when the payoff is in cash or certified funds. Late releases can cost $150 plus the customer's legal fees. Source: 625 ILCS 5/3-205.
What will it cost?
Plans will run $49 to $149 a month depending on how many cars you finance. Founding dealers get a discount. Joining the list is free.
What happens after I join?
We'll email you when early access opens, and we may ask a couple of quick questions about how you handle titles today. We only use your details to talk about early access, and we don't sell them.
Early access
Join the early-access list
Takes about a minute. We'll only use this to talk to you about early access. No spam, and we don't sell your info.
- Free to join, no card needed
- Founding-dealer discount at launch
- Help decide what gets built first