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HomeCommercial CodeDiv. 9Ch. 3§ 9311 Security Interest Exemptions

§ 9311 Security Interest Exemptions

Commercial Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 9311 Security Interest Exemptions

Key Takeaways

  • •You don’t need to file extra papers to prove you own something if the law already says so (like cars, boats, or mobile homes).
  • •If the law says you must register something (like a car), doing that is enough to show you own it.
  • •If you’re selling cars or boats as part of your business, different rules might apply.

Example

You buy a car and get the title with your name on it.

You don’t need to file extra papers to prove you own the car because the title already shows that.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 9311 Security Interest Exemptions

(a) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (d), the filing of a financing statement is not necessary or effective to perfect a security interest in property subject to any of the following: (1) A statute, regulation, or treaty of the United States whose requirements for a security interest’s obtaining priority over the rights of a lien creditor with respect to the property preempt subdivision (a) of Section 9310. (2) (A) The provisions of the Vehicle Code which require registration of a vehicle or boat. (B) The provisions of the Health and Safety Code which require registration of a mobilehome or commercial coach, except that during any period in which collateral is inventory, the filing provisions of Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 9501) apply to a security interest in that collateral. (C) The provisions of the Health and Safety Code which require registration of all interests in approved air contaminant emission reductions (Sections 40709 to 40713, inclusive, of the Health and Safety Code). (3) A statute of another jurisdiction which provides for a security interest to be indicated on a certificate of title as a condition or result of the security interest’s obtaining priority over the rights of a lien creditor with respect to the property. (b) Compliance with the requirements of a statute, regulation, or treaty described in subdivision (a) for obtaining priority over the rights of a lien creditor is equivalent to the filing of a financing statement under this division. Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (d), in Section 9313, and in subdivisions (d) and (e) of Section 9316 for goods covered by a certificate of title, a security interest in property subject to a statute, regulation, or treaty described in subdivision (a) may be perfected only by compliance with those requirements, and a security interest so perfected remains perfected notwithstanding a change in the use or transfer of possession of the collateral. (c) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (d) and in subdivisions (d) and (e) of Section 9316, duration and renewal of perfection of a security interest perfected by compliance with the requirements prescribed by a statute, regulation, or treaty described in subdivision (a) are governed by the statute, regulation, or treaty. In other respects, the security interest is subject to this division. (d) During any period in which collateral subject to a statute specified in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) is inventory held for sale or lease by a person or leased by that person as lessor and that person is in the business of selling goods of that kind, this section does not apply to a security interest in that collateral created by that person. (Amended by Stats. 2013, Ch. 531, Sec. 10. (AB 502) Effective January 1, 2014. Operative July 1, 2014, by Sec. 28 of Ch. 531.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

financing statementsecurity interestperfectlien creditor

Related Statutes

  • § 9317 Priority Of Security Interests
  • § 17304 Transitional Security Interest Perfection
  • § 9320 Buyer Protection From Security Interests
  • § 9338 Incorrect Financing Statement Priority
  • § 9705 Transitional Security Interest Perfection

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Commercial Code. Section 9311.
View Official Source