---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 U.S.C. § 14301"
title: "49"
title_heading: "Transportation"
number: "14301"
heading: "Security interests in certain motor vehicles"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/49/14301"
units:
  - "Subtitle IV — Interstate Transportation"
  - "Part B — Motor Carriers, Water Carriers, Brokers, and Freight Forwarders"
  - "Chapter 143 — Finance"
---

# §14301. Security interests in certain motor vehicles

- (a) **Definitions.—** In this section, the following definitions apply:
  - (1) **Motor vehicle.—** The term “[motor vehicle](/usc/49/13102.md?p=16)” means a truck of rated capacity (gross vehicle weight) of at least 10,000 pounds, a [highway](/usc/49/13102.md?p=9) tractor of rated capacity (gross combination weight) of at least 10,000 pounds, a property-carrying trailer or semitrailer with at least one load-carrying axle of at least 10,000 pounds, or a motor bus with a seating capacity of at least 10 individuals.
  - (2) **Lien creditor.—** The term “lien creditor” means a creditor having a lien on a [motor vehicle](/usc/49/13102.md?p=16) and includes an assignee for benefit of creditors from the date of assignment, a trustee in a case under [title 11](/usc/11.md) from the date of filing of the petition in that case, and a receiver in equity from the date of appointment of the receiver.
  - (3) **Security interest.—** The term “security interest” means an interest (including an interest established by a conditional sales contract, mortgage, equipment trust, or other lien or title retention contract, or lease) in a [motor vehicle](/usc/49/13102.md?p=16) when the interest secures payment or performance of an obligation.
  - (4) **Perfection.—** The term “perfection”, as related to a security interest, means taking action (including public filing, recording, notation on a certificate of title, and possession of collateral by the secured party), or the existence of facts, required under law to make a security interest enforceable against general creditors and subsequent lien creditors of a debtor, but does not include compliance with requirements related only to the establishment of a valid security interest between the debtor and the secured party.
- (b) **Requirements for Perfection of Security Interest.—** A security interest in a [motor vehicle](/usc/49/13102.md?p=16) owned by, or in the possession and use of, a [carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=3) registered under [section 13902 of this title](/usc/49/13902.md) and owing payment or performance of an obligation secured by that security interest is perfected in all jurisdictions against all general, and subsequent lien, creditors of, and all [persons](/usc/49/13102.md?p=18) taking a [motor vehicle](/usc/49/13102.md?p=16) by sale (or taking or retaining a security interest in a [motor vehicle](/usc/49/13102.md?p=16)) from, that [carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=3) when—
  - (1) a certificate of title is issued for a [motor vehicle](/usc/49/13102.md?p=16) under a law of a jurisdiction that requires or permits indication, on a certificate or title, of a security interest in the [motor vehicle](/usc/49/13102.md?p=16) if the security interest is indicated on the certificate;
  - (2) a certificate of title has not been issued and the law of the [State](/usc/49/10102.md?p=8) where the principal place of business of that [carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=3) is located requires or permits public filing or recording of, or in relation to, that security interest if there has been such a public filing or recording; and
  - (3) a certificate of title has not been issued and the security interest cannot be perfected under paragraph (2) of this subsection, if the security interest has been perfected under the law (including the conflict of laws rules) of the [State](/usc/49/10102.md?p=8) where the principal place of business of that [carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=3) is located.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 104–88, title I, § 103, Dec. 29, 1995, 109 Stat. 894.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 11304 of this title prior to the general amendment of this subtitle by Pub. L. 104–88, § 102(a).

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective Jan. 1, 1996, except as otherwise provided in Pub. L. 104–88, see section 2 of Pub. L. 104–88, set out as a note under section 1301 of this title.