Free tool · Directory
UCC lien search in New York
Central filing office
New York Department of State, Division of Corporations, State Records and Uniform Commercial Code
Opens ucc-efiling.dos.ny.gov in a new tab
- Online access
- Anyone can search debtor names online at no cost, with no account.
- Fees
- Search $25 per debtor ($50 with results under seal); plain copy $5; certified copy $10; expedited handling $75 extra; filing $40 paper or fax, $20 electronic.
- Certified search
- Submit a Form UCC-11 Information Request to the Department of State in Albany: $25 per debtor search, $50 if search results are issued under seal.
- Last verified
What to know in New York
- Search runs on the new UCC portal: use Lien Search under Additional Options on the portal home page, which sits outside the login form. The older appext20 search has been shut down.
- Copy and search requests need separate UCC-11 forms with separate fees; credit cards and drawdown accounts are not accepted for copy requests.
- Expedited same-day handling requires the request to reach the UCC Unit at least two hours before close of business.
- UCC-11 search results are returned by first class mail; DOS does not fax or email them.
About this tool
Is New York the right filing office to search?
Search New York when the carrier is located there for UCC purposes, which is not always where its trucks run. An LLC or corporation organized in New York is located in New York (UCC §9-307), wherever it dispatches from. A sole proprietor is located at their principal residence, so an owner-operator who lives in New York is searched here.
If the carrier was organized somewhere else but operates in New York, search its formation state first, then New York 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 New York, 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 New York debtor search
Open the New York Department of State, Division of Corporations, State Records and Uniform Commercial Code 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 New York?
In New York, UCC records are kept by the New York Department of State, Division of Corporations, State Records and Uniform Commercial Code. 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 New York?
Search $25 per debtor ($50 with results under seal); plain copy $5; certified copy $10; expedited handling $75 extra; filing $40 paper or fax, $20 electronic. 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 New York?
Submit a Form UCC-11 Information Request to the Department of State in Albany: $25 per debtor search, $50 if search results are issued under seal.
How long does a UCC-1 filed in New York 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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