If a vehicle or vessel is levied upon and a certificate of ownership has been issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles for such vehicle or vessel and the certificate of ownership is still in effect, or if a manufactured home, mobilehome, or commercial coach is levied upon and a permanent title record has been established by the Department of Housing and Community Development for such manufactured home, mobilehome, or commercial coach the levying officer shall determine from the appropriate department the name and address of the legal owner and each junior lienholder of the property levied upon. If the legal owner or junior lienholder is not the judgment debtor and is not in possession of the vehicle, vessel, manufactured home, mobilehome, or commercial coach, the levying officer shall at the time of levy or promptly thereafter serve a copy of the writ of execution and a notice of levy on the legal owner or junior lienholder. Service shall be made personally or by mail.
§ 700.090.Vehicle, Vessel, Manufactured Home, Mobilehome Or Commercial Coach Levied Upon
Title 9. Enforcement of Judgments · Division 2 · Chapter 3. Execution · Article 4. Methods of Levy · Last amended 1983 · Last verified July 28, 2026
In one sentenceSection 700.090 requires the levying officer, upon levying a titled vehicle, vessel, manufactured home, mobilehome, or commercial coach, to identify the legal owner and any junior lienholder through DMV or housing department records and serve them if they aren't the debtor and aren't in possession.
Full Text of § 700.090
Plain-English Summary
Vehicles and similarly titled property often carry ownership interests that don't show up just from possession — a lender may hold legal title while the debtor drives the car. Section 700.090 requires the levying officer, when a vehicle or vessel has a Department of Motor Vehicles certificate of ownership still in effect, or a manufactured home, mobilehome, or commercial coach has a permanent title record with the Department of Housing and Community Development, to find out the legal owner and any junior lienholder from the appropriate department's records.
If that legal owner or lienholder isn't the judgment debtor and isn't in possession of the property, the officer serves them with a copy of the writ and a notice of levy, at the time of levy or promptly after, personally or by mail. That notice gives lienholders a chance to protect their interest before the property is sold.
Frequently Asked Questions
What triggers the department-records check under § 700.090?
Levying on a vehicle or vessel with an effective DMV certificate of ownership, or on a manufactured home, mobilehome, or commercial coach with a permanent title record with the Department of Housing and Community Development.
Who must be served after that check?
The legal owner or any junior lienholder identified in the records, if that person isn't the judgment debtor and isn't in possession of the property.
How is that service made?
Personally or by mail, at the time of levy or promptly afterward.
Amendment History
Amended by Stats. 1983, Ch. 1124, Sec. 10.
Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from
the Deering's California Codes Annotated / vLex. Enacted by the California Legislature.
Last verified July 28, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: levy vehicle vessel mobilehome californialevy titled property dmv