Obtaining your car title is a crucial step in vehicle ownership, and if you’ve ordered a title online, understanding the mailing timeline is essential. This guide breaks down the typical processing and mailing times for car titles ordered online, ensuring you know when to expect your important document.
Standard Mailing Times for Online Title Orders
The timeframe for receiving your car title depends on when you place your order and the concept of business days. Here’s a breakdown of the standard mailing schedule:
| ORDERED (Eastern Time) | PRINTED | MAILED |
|---|---|---|
| Before 8 pm | Next business day | 2nd business day |
| Monday – Thursday after 8 pm | 2 business days after ordered | 3rd business day |
| Friday, Saturday or Sunday | Monday | Tuesday |
It’s important to understand what constitutes a “business day” in this context. A business day is any weekday that is not a state holiday. If you place your title certificate order around a weekend or a state holiday, processing will commence on the next business day following the weekend or holiday.
Examples of Processing and Mailing Timelines
Let’s illustrate these timelines with a couple of examples to clarify the process:
- Example 1: If you order a title before 8 p.m. on Tuesday, it will be printed on Wednesday (the next business day) and mailed out on Thursday (the 2nd business day).
- Example 2: If you order a title after 8 p.m. on Tuesday, the printing will occur on Thursday (2 business days after the order), and it will be mailed on Friday (the 3rd business day).
These examples highlight how the 8 p.m. cutoff affects the processing timeline and subsequently the mailing date of your car title.
Important Considerations Regarding Your Car Title Delivery
Several key factors can influence the delivery of your car title, and it’s important to be aware of these:
Same-Day Cancellation Policy
It’s critical to note that online title transactions can only be canceled on the same day the order is placed. If you realize you’ve made an error or need to cancel your order, ensure you do so on the same day to avoid complications.
Mailing Address Accuracy is Key
Your new car title will be mailed to the current address on your title record. It is your responsibility to ensure this address is accurate and up-to-date.
If your vehicle registration is in your name, you typically have the option to change your address online before replacing your title. However, if someone else is listed as the registrant for your vehicle, online address changes for the title record may not be possible. In such cases, you will need to contact the Title Services Bureau directly at 1-518-486-4714 to update the address associated with your title.
It’s also worth noting that while the US Postal Service (USPS) offers mail forwarding services, there is no guarantee that government documents, such as DMV documents, will be forwarded to a new address. Therefore, verifying and updating your address with the DMV is the most reliable way to ensure you receive your car title without delay.
Expedited Shipping with Express Mail
For those needing their replacement title more urgently, express mail is available for an additional fee. However, it’s important to be aware that express mail service is not available between Friday at 8:30 pm and Sunday at 8:30 pm.
Furthermore, choosing express mail only expedites the shipping process; it does not reduce the time needed to review your application or issue the replacement title itself. The processing and printing timelines remain the same as outlined in the standard mailing schedule.
By understanding these timelines and important considerations, you can accurately estimate how long it will take to receive your car title after ordering online and take necessary steps to ensure a smooth and timely delivery.
