Involuntary Lien: An involuntary lien is placed on your vehicle without your consent, usually due to unpaid obligations such as taxes, mechanic's service charges, or other debts.
While mechanic's liens can be placed against a financed or owned vehicle, the lien works differently with a financed car. When a motor vehicle is financed, the lender will also have a lien on the car.
A payoff request allows a third party to receive the current balance due to release a lien or facilitate a business transfer (bulk sale transfer or liquor license). To release a lien or facilitate a bulk sale transfer, businesses must be in good standing to receive a payoff request.
If you don't have a title in hand you'll have to process the lien release before you can sell it.