(a) The Commissioner, upon receipt of a properly assigned certificate of title, with an application for a new certificate of title, the required fee, and any other documents required by law, shall issue a new certificate of title in the name of the transferee as owner and mail to the first lienholder named in it or, if none, to the owner.

(b) The Commissioner, upon receipt of an application for a new certificate of title by a transferee other than by voluntary transfer, with proof of the transfer, the required fee, and any other documents required by law, shall issue a new certificate of title in the name of the transferee as owner. If the outstanding certificate of title is not delivered to him or her, the Commissioner shall make demand from the holder.

(c) The Commissioner shall file and retain every surrendered certificate of title for five years. The file shall be maintained so as to permit the tracing of title of the vessel, snowmobile, or all-terrain vehicle designated. (Added 1987, No. 152 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2001, No. 107 (Adj. Sess.), § 16; 2011, No. 46, § 22.)