Free tool · Directory
UCC lien search in North Carolina
Central filing office
North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State, Uniform Commercial Code Section
Opens sosnc.gov in a new tab
- Online access
- Anyone can search debtor names online at no cost, with no account.
- Fees
- Online search free; UCC-11 search $38 per debtor name ($10 more for gold seal); copies $2 per page (or print free online); certified copies $10 plus $2 per UCC page; federal tax lien search $5 per name.
- Certified search
- Mail a UCC-11 Information Request: $38 per debtor name (plain certification) or $38 plus $10 per debtor name (gold seal certification).
- Last verified
What to know in North Carolina
- Standard RA9 search gives exact matches only (noise words like Corp and Inc excluded); non-standard options (starting with, any words, all words, exact match) help when the exact name is uncertain.
- Copies of filed documents can be printed free online.
- The search page shows the date results are current through (filings through 10/14/2026 when checked).
- Automated or scripted searches are not permitted; bulk data is offered through Data Subscription Services.
About this tool
Is North Carolina the right filing office to search?
Search North Carolina when the carrier is located there for UCC purposes, which is not always where its trucks run. An LLC or corporation organized in North Carolina is located in North Carolina (UCC §9-307), wherever it dispatches from. A sole proprietor is located at their principal residence, so an owner-operator who lives in North Carolina is searched here.
If the carrier was organized somewhere else but operates in North Carolina, search its formation state first, then North Carolina as well. A filing in the wrong state may not perfect anything, but it still shows that another funder believes it has a claim.
How to search UCC filings in North Carolina, step by step
- 1
Confirm the exact legal name
Copy the carrier's name from its formation record, entity suffix and punctuation included. A financing statement against a registered organization has to use the name on its public organic record (UCC §9-503).
- 2
Run the North Carolina debtor search
Open the North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State, Uniform Commercial Code Section search and search the exact name. Its online debtor search is free and needs no account.
- 3
Repeat with the variations
Search the DBA, former names, the owner's individual name for a sole proprietor, and the name with and without "LLC" or "Inc.". Each filing office applies its own search logic (UCC §9-506), so one search is rarely enough.
- 4
Open every hit's full history
Read the UCC-1 collateral description, then every UCC-3 filed against the same initial file number: amendments, assignments, continuations and terminations.
- 5
Record what you found
Save the results with the search date and time in the carrier's file. When you need an official record, order the certified search described above.
What to look for in the results
- Blanket liens: collateral described as "all assets" or "all personal property" reaches accounts, so it covers the invoices you plan to buy.
- Accounts and receivables: a description naming "accounts" or "receivables" usually means another factor or an asset-based lender.
- Lapse dates: a UCC-1 is effective for five years after filing unless a continuation is filed in the six months before it lapses (UCC §9-515).
- Assignments and terminations: an assignment changes who you ask for a release, and a filed termination ends the financing statement's effectiveness (UCC §9-513).
If you find a lien
Contact the secured party on a number you find yourself, and ask for a letter of release covering the accounts or a UCC-3 termination before you fund. The free NOA and release letter generator drafts the letter. If the prior factor has already notified the carrier's brokers, read two NOAs, one carrier.
For the full process, see UCC lien searches before you fund a carrier and the UCC-1 glossary entry.
Frequently asked questions
How do I search UCC filings in North Carolina?
In North Carolina, UCC records are kept by the North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State, Uniform Commercial Code Section. Its online debtor search is free and needs no account. Use the official search, enter the carrier's exact legal name, then repeat with its DBA and name variations.
How much does a UCC search cost in North Carolina?
Online search free; UCC-11 search $38 per debtor name ($10 more for gold seal); copies $2 per page (or print free online); certified copies $10 plus $2 per UCC page; federal tax lien search $5 per name. These figures come from the official sources listed on this page as of October 19, 2026; confirm them on the filing office's site before you order.
How do I get a certified UCC search in North Carolina?
Mail a UCC-11 Information Request: $38 per debtor name (plain certification) or $38 plus $10 per debtor name (gold seal certification).
How long does a UCC-1 filed in North Carolina stay effective?
Generally five years from the filing date under UCC §9-515, unless the secured party files a continuation in the six months before it lapses. Each continuation adds another five years, so check the lapse date and look for continuations on every hit.
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