farmington

919cw313

Car is in MI or is it somewhere the lienholder keeps the title until paid off?

LMB-Z

Easiest way is to have your bank contact the other bank. Let them handle it, they know how.

Bought a car with a lien, called my Credit Union, they called the other credit union, done. Took about 15 minutes.

farmington

919cw313

Maybe some Ohio people will chime in with advice, but I wouldn't do it, I just don't trust people enough.

I think your best bet is to call WF and ask how they would do it. You certainly don't want to write the seller a check and have them send a clear title to him instead of you.

Welker1

Should still be able to have your bank/credit union handle it. Several years ago when I was stationed in Hawaii; bought a vehicle with a lien on it from an individual in the Navy. His bank was in California, my credit union was in Hawaii; went to them and they handled everything.

zzjakect

I've done this several times. Just let banks handle it. That's what you pay them for.

ben dover

In the days of yore, there was a thing called a "titled attached check".

LMB-Z

It doesnt matter where the car is and where you are...financial institutions have ways of communicating with each other, and sending money. When I bought my 05, my Credit Union was in Texarkana...car was in Plano, car was financed somewhere else. My credit union spoke with owner of car, who gave them info, then they called his financial place, made the deal. About 15 minutes later, credit union called and said it was a done deal. 2 minutes later, his place called and said done deal. I drove the car home. Signed papers the next day. Done. They know how to do it, trust me.

Gator6977

I literally just did this last week. I met the previous owner at his credit union after having already secured funds from my bank. After all wheeling and dealing was done, we went inside his bank and I got the payoff amount. I wrote a check to the bank for the amount and a check to the seller for the agreed upon amount less the payoff. He signed the title and I left. Got back to my state and took the title and inspection sheet to the tag office for my donation to the state. Checks cleared and I'm still driving with a perma-grin!

J3TVETTE

This only worked out because he was financing at a Credit Union. Banks on the other hand are a pain in the ***. They can take up to 3 weeks to release a title. Went through this a few times already unfortunately.

Be careful with credit unions as well. Some of them keep the title in their "main office branch" and can also take a few weeks to release.

artz66

J3TVETTE

I guess we had different situations. I paid cash for 2 of the vehicles that had liens and I had to wait for them to release the title. One took 18 days and one took 12.

Kenny94945

There's risk.
If the lien holder has a local office that would help.
You pay the bank, then pay seller balance.
But where the title.
Seller will have it.
Needs to be signed off by bank and signed by seller.
Maybe you need to travel to other state.
Good luck.

Reckedhim

That's exactly what I just did. It sucked waiting 10 business days for the check to clear. The car was just sitting in my garage tempting me to drive it. Was quite relieved and excited once the seller sent me the title.

farmington

So, I should give seller two checks, one to cover the lien, and the second to make up rest of selling price. Then write out a sales agreement signed by both of us. I then take possession of the car and then the seller and/or lien holder (bank) will send me a clear title?

919cw313

What did WF say?

Zero_6

Gator6977

For the love of everything sacred, no! Have your financial institution write a letter of guarantee for the funds you've secured. Either go to their physical bank, or deal with them over the phone with the seller there. Send them the funds directly yourself. They will release their lien with the state. Then give the remainder to the seller. Be sure to get his/her signature on the title and on a bill of sale. Not a bad idea to get it notarized too. For state specific questions about titling, I would either call your local PD or a trooper, or your local tag office and nearest tag office to where the car is located. And please don't give the seller two checks and expect them to do the right thing and send it in for you.

artz66