Section 40-3-27. General procedure for reflecting a subsequent transaction on certificate

   (a) Whenever the certificate of title is in the possession of a security interest holder or lienholder as allowed by this chapter and some other person, including the owner, who has an interest in a transaction concerning a security interest or lien shown on the certificate of title desires to have that transaction reflected on the certificate of title, such security interest holder or lienholder may execute a notice of that transaction in the form prescribed by the commissioner, setting forth the details of the transaction such security interest holder or lienholder desires to be reflected on the certificate of title. The notice, a fee as provided by Code Section 40-3-38, and the title application shall be mailed by certified mail or statutory overnight delivery, return receipt requested, by the person desiring the change to the first security interest holder or lienholder having possession of the certificate of title. The notice shall contain on its face instructions to the security interest holder or lienholder having custody of the certificate of title directing such security interest holder or lienholder within ten days to forward the notice, the fee, the title application, and the certificate of title to the commissioner or the commissioner's duly authorized county tag agent. The first security interest holder or lienholder having possession of the certificate of title shall comply with the instructions contained in the notice. The commissioner or the authorized county tag agent, upon receipt of such a notice and title application, together with the fee and certificate of title, shall enter the transaction shown on the notice on such commissioner's or authorized county tag agent's records and on the certificate of title or issue a new certificate of title and shall then deliver the certificate of title as provided for in this chapter. The person desiring the change shall retain the return certified mail or statutory overnight delivery receipt as proof of such person's compliance with this Code section.

(b) In the event the first security interest holder or lienholder holding the certificate of title fails, refuses, or neglects to forward the title application, notice, fee, and original certificate of title to the commissioner or the commissioner's duly authorized county tag agent, as required by this Code section, the person desiring the change may, on a form prescribed by the commissioner, make direct application to the commissioner or the authorized county tag agent. Such direct application to the commissioner or the authorized county tag agent shall have attached to it the return registered or certified mail or statutory overnight delivery receipt showing the previous mailing of the title application, fee, and notice to the first security interest holder or lienholder. Upon receipt of such a direct application, the commissioner or the authorized county tag agent shall order the first security interest holder or lienholder having custody of the certificate of title to forward the certificate of title to the commissioner or the authorized county tag agent for the purpose of having the subsequent transaction entered thereon or a new certificate of title issued. If, after a direct application to the commissioner or the authorized county tag agent and the order of the commissioner or authorized county tag agent, the first security interest holder or lienholder continues to fail, refuse, or neglect to forward the certificate of title as provided in this Code section, the commissioner or authorized county tag agent may cancel the outstanding certificate of title and issue a new certificate of title reflecting all security interests and liens, including the subsequent security interest, and this new certificate of title shall be delivered as provided for in this chapter.

(c) As an alternative to mailing notices of transactions concerning a security interest or lien on the certificate of title to the commissioner or the commissioner's appropriate authorized county tag agent in accordance with this Code section, the commissioner shall be authorized to permit the transaction to be made by electronic means in accordance with regulations promulgated by the commissioner.

(d) Any first security interest holder or lienholder having possession of a certificate of title shall not have the validity of such first security interest holder's or lienholder's security interest or lien affected by surrendering the certificate of title as provided by this Code section.

Ga. L. 1965, p. 304, § 2; Ga. L. 1981, p. 883, § 4; Ga. L. 1986, p. 438, § 2; Ga. L. 1990, p. 2048, § 3; Ga. L. 1997, p. 739, § 11; Ga. L. 1998, p. 1179, § 33; Ga. L. 2000, p. 1589, § 3.