Need help understanding how Autocheck report Leins?

Question

I am interested in buying a car but Autocheck reported that it had a Lein on i t back when it was originally purchased as a new car in 1999. In 2008 it was purchased through an Auto Auction through a dealership in which Im looking to buy the same car from.

If this car was purchased through and Auction by a delaership, that means the lien was taken care of by the dealership right?

In the details column of the autocheck report it stated that the title was present at the auction. (example below)

08/31/2005 PISCATAWAY, NJ Motor Vehicle Dept. REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL

08/31/2006 PISCATAWAY, NJ Motor Vehicle Dept. REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL

08/31/2007 PISCATAWAY, NJ Motor Vehicle Dept. REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL

05/05/2008 126,537 Auto Auction REPORTED AT AUTO AUCTION

05/06/2008 LINDEN, NJ 126,520 Motor Vehicle Dept. TITLE

05/06/2008 EASTERN REGION 126,537 Auto Auction REPORTED AT AUTO AUCTION AS DEALER VEHICLE

Answer 1

Go to the dealership and ask to see the title.   If there is nothing where it says "Legal Owner" there is no lien.  If there is, there is.

Answer 2

Short Answer: Yes the lien has been taken care of and is no longer listed on the title.

Long Answer:

You can see that on 5/6/08 the vehicle was issued a new title.   A new title can not be issued until the lien holder and the title owner have signed off on the old title.  Meaning the lien holder has released their lien.

Beware:  If that car is at an auto auction it was probably deemed a total loss by an insurance company and is going to be rebuilt.  This also severly effects the resale value if you try to sell it.