Perfection and titles — fees

1. A security interest created in this state in a vessel required to have a certificate of title is not perfected until the security interest is noted on the certificate of title. a. To perfect the security interest, an application for security interest must be presented along with the original title. The county recorder shall note the security interest on the face of the title and in the electronic record maintained by the recorder’s office. b. The application fee for a security interest is five dollars. The fees shall be credited to the county general fund. c. The application shall be accompanied by the writing fee specified in section 462A.53. 2. The certificate of title shall be presented to the county recorder when the application for security interest or for assignment of the security interest is presented and a new or endorsed certificate of title shall be issued to the secured party with the name and address of the secured party upon it. 3. When a security interest is discharged, the secured party shall note the cancellation of the security interest on the face of the certificate of title and send the title by first class mail to the office of the county recorder where the title was issued, or the secured party shall send a notarized letter by first class mail to the county recorder where the title was issued notifying the county recorder of the cancellation of the security interest. The county recorder shall note the release of the security interest in the county records as evidence of the release of the security interest. 4. If a lien has been released by the lienholder, proof of such release may be presented to the county recorder of any county, and the county recorder shall note the release on the face of the certificate of title and enter the release on the statewide computer system.