G.S. 20-58.2. Date of perfection

The full text of G.S. 20-58.2 (Date of perfection), with plain-English commentary from North Carolina DWI defense attorneys Chris Adkins and Chris Purkey in the side column. Article 3: Motor Vehicle Act of 1937.

Attorney commentary

This short section sets the date a vehicle lien takes effect. If the lender delivers the lien application and fee to the DMV within 20 days after the security agreement is signed, the lien is perfected as of the date the agreement was signed. If the application arrives later, the lien is perfected only as of the date the DMV receives it.

The 20-day window matters most to lenders and dealers, because the perfection date can decide which of two competing lenders comes first.

Practical note: the lien application itself is governed by G.S. 20-58. If priority between creditors is ever disputed, the date the security agreement was signed and the date the DMV received the application are the key facts.

Commentary by Attorney Chris Adkins & Attorney Chris Purkey, Adkins & Purkey, PLLC · Reviewed November 2026 · General information, not legal advice.

§ 20-58.2. Date of perfection.

If the application for notation of security interest with the required fee is delivered to the Division within 20 days after the date of the security agreement, the security interest is perfected as of the date of the execution of the security agreement. Otherwise, the security interest is perfected as of the date of delivery of the application to the Division. (1961, c. 835, s. 6; 1969, c. 838, s. 1; 1975, c. 716, s. 5; 1991, c. 414, s. 1.)

Official text of N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-58.2 as published by the North Carolina General Assembly (Chapter 20 PDF, retrieved November 10, 2026). Verify the current version on ncleg.gov ↗.

G.S. 20-58.2. Date of perfection

§ 20-58.2. Date of perfection.

Your next move starts here.