Title Lookup

The Title Lookup screen is used to view and/or select a title. The searchable fields will change depending on the database source you are searching. For example, if you are searching DMV's database, you can only search by VIN, CTA#, or Title#. When you search the Town database, all the fields are available.

 

Once you have typed your search criteria into one of the text boxes, click Search. This will display the results in the grid. Note the Status section in the grid. This field will display the current status of the title, such as Applied For or Issued. This is important to note because you cannot create a title for your customer if the prior title status is Applied For. Only one title can be applied for at a time. If you need to create a title application for a title with an Applied For status, you would need to call Title Bureau for instruction on how to proceed.

 

Another important feature in the Title lookup grid is the Trust Indicator field. If a clerk issues a title to a trust, the vehicle may be renewed in the birth month of an owner. The trust indicator is located on the far right of the search result grid. If the trust indicator is Y (for Yes, this is a trust), you can proceed to the registration without having to process a “dummy” title. If the trust indicator is N (for No, this is not a trust), then the clerk did not designate the ownership as a trust, which means you will need to contact the MA HelpDesk to get permission to process a “dummy” title.

 

When searching for a title, the type of document your customer brings will determine which search option is the best. For example, if your customer has applied for the title application at the dealership where they bought their vehicle, they would have given you the title application form. If they have applied for the title already you would use the CTA# field to search for the title. If your customer has a title in their name, use the Title# field to search for the title. If you are not certain of the status of a title, use the VIN lookup field to search for all titles associated with that VIN number. Once the vehicle information you are searching for is displayed in the grid, highlight the information and click Select. If the title information is not available, you can click Skip to advance to the next screen, which will allow you to type in the title information.