Tesla Solar UCC Release Process - Need Help with Termination Filing

Congrats on paying off the solar system! Yes, you definitely want to make sure that UCC-1 gets properly terminated. The loan servicer should file a UCC-3 termination statement within 30 days of payoff (varies by state). I'd recommend checking your state's SOS website - most have online UCC search tools where you can look up filings by debtor name. If you don't see a termination filed within 60 days, you'll want to follow up aggressively with the servicer.

Tesla solar financing is typically done through third-party lenders who definitely file UCC-1 statements to perfect their security interest in the solar equipment. When you pay off the loan, they're legally required to file a UCC-3 termination. However, some servicers are notoriously slow about this. Here's what I'd do: 1) Get written confirmation from the loan servicer that the loan is paid in full, 2) Request a copy of the UCC-3 termination when they file it, 3) Check the SOS database yourself after 30-45 days. If no termination shows up, you may need to request they file it or potentially file a correction yourself.

I went through this exact situation with my Tesla solar payoff in 2023. The loan servicer (SunLight Financial in my case) was supposed to file the UCC-3 termination automatically but never did. After three months of back-and-forth, I finally had to threaten to file a complaint with my state's consumer protection office. They filed it within a week after that. Definitely stay on top of them and don't assume they'll handle it properly just because you paid off the loan.

Had a similar headache with my solar loan termination last year. What finally helped me was using Certana.ai's document checker tool - I uploaded my original loan docs and the UCC-1 filing I found on the SOS website, and it immediately flagged that the debtor name didn't match exactly (they had 'John Smith' on the UCC-1 but 'John A Smith' on my loan agreement). This discrepancy was causing delays in the termination process. Once I knew what to look for, I could get the servicer to fix it properly. The tool made it super easy to compare all the documents and catch the inconsistency.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? I paid off my Tesla solar in January and I'm STILL waiting for the UCC termination! The servicer keeps giving me the runaround about 'processing delays' and 'our legal department is reviewing.' It's been 8 months!! This is exactly why I hate dealing with solar financing companies - they're quick to take your money but slow as molasses when it comes to releasing liens.

Quick question - does the UCC release affect your homeowner's insurance at all? I'm in the middle of paying off my Tesla solar loan and wondering if I need to notify my insurance company once the lien is terminated.

This thread is making me nervous about my own Tesla solar loan. I still have 3 years left on payments but now I'm wondering if I should check what UCC filings are out there with my name on them. Better to know now than be surprised later I guess.

For what it's worth, I used Certana.ai when I was having issues with my equipment financing termination (not Tesla but similar situation). Uploaded my payoff letter and the UCC-1 from the state database and it caught that the collateral description was too vague on the original filing. This actually helped speed up the termination process because we could fix the issue before the servicer filed the UCC-3. Saved me probably weeks of back-and-forth.

UPDATE: Just wanted to thank everyone for the advice. I checked my state's SOS website and found that the UCC-3 termination was actually filed two weeks ago - I just never got notified! The servicer did file it but their communication was terrible. For anyone else going through this, definitely check the database yourself rather than waiting for confirmation from the loan company.

One more thing to consider - if you're planning to sell your house anytime soon, make sure you have documentation that the UCC was properly terminated. Title companies will flag active UCC filings during the closing process and it can delay or complicate the sale if there's any confusion about whether liens are still active.

Been following this thread and decided to check my own Tesla solar situation. Found THREE different UCC-1 filings under my name from the original installation, refinancing, and some kind of modification. Now I'm totally confused about which ones need to be terminated when I pay off the loan. This is way more complicated than I expected!

This whole thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in a similar boat - just made my final payment on my Tesla solar loan last month and Tesla customer service has been absolutely useless in explaining the next steps. Reading through everyone's experiences, it sounds like I need to: 1) Get written confirmation that the loan is paid in full, 2) Check my state's Secretary of State UCC database in 30-60 days to verify the UCC-3 termination was filed, and 3) Be prepared to follow up aggressively if it doesn't show up. The name matching issue that @ElectricDreamer mentioned is something I hadn't considered - I'll definitely double-check how my name appears on all the documents. It's frustrating that something as simple as "loan paid off" requires this much detective work, but at least now I have a roadmap. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences!

As someone who just went through this exact process with my Tesla solar payoff, I can't stress enough how important it is to be proactive about tracking the UCC termination yourself. Don't rely on the loan servicer to keep you informed - I waited 45 days for them to "send me confirmation" that never came, only to find out they had actually filed the UCC-3 termination three weeks earlier. The state SOS database showed it clear as day, but nobody bothered to tell me. My advice: bookmark your state's UCC search page and check it weekly starting about 30 days after payoff. Most states make it pretty easy to search by debtor name, and you'll be able to see both the original UCC-1 filing and any termination statements. Also, screenshot everything when you find the termination - you'll want that documentation for your records, especially if you ever refinance or sell your home. The solar industry really needs to get better at communicating these critical steps to customers!