Bought a car. How long do I give the seller's bank (old lein holder) to get the title to me?

[Savij]

I bought the car and the payoff check was delivered to the bank on Oct. 10th (I have the tracking number). My bank still hasn't received the title from them, and I can't register or drive the car in MA till I get the title in hand. My bank has agreed to overnight the title to me when they get it, but it still hasn't arrived. This sucks bad enough, but I'm planning on extending the factory warranty, and need the title to do that. If I don't get it soon, the factory warranty will expire...

How long does it normally take? Is there a legal limit on how long they have to get me the title?

 

[FoBoT]

you bought it through a dealer?

 

[Dunbar]

I'm guessing private party sale. I don't think there is any legal limit. Have you tried contacting the seller's bank? Are you sure that the car was paid off in full? I take it that you have a bill of sale and proof of payment? My credit union said they mailed the title when I paid my car off but it either got lost or thrown out. I got a "lien satisfied" form from them and paid the $40 to get a duplicate title (took a few weeks though.)

 

[Savij]

Originally posted by: Dunbar
I'm guessing private party sale. I don't think there is any legal limit. Have you tried contacting the seller's bank? Are you sure that the car was paid off in full? I take it that you have a bill of sale and proof of payment? My credit union said they mailed the title when I paid my car off but it either got lost or thrown out. I got a "lien satisfied" form from them and paid the $40 to get a duplicate title (took a few weeks though.)

Yeah, it's a private party sale. It wouldn't be such a big deal, but I'm not allowed to get insurance or drive the car till I get the title. The sellers are a nice couple, but I can't exactly afford to buy a car and not be able to drive it for a couple of months.

 

[alkemyst]

Never experienced that...most insurance companies will give you a binder and DMV temp tags with a bill of sale.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: alkemyst
Never experienced that...most insurance companies will give you a binder and DMV temp tags with a bill of sale.

In Alabama and NY I have registered cars while never seeing the title. Anybody with a car loan has not got possession of their title and can still get insurance and register it, as the title is held until the loan is paid, but maybe we're missing something here...

 

[kt]

I don't get it. Did you pay off the car or did your bank pay off the car?

 

[HyTekJosh]

When you do a private party sale its advisable to have the seller first pay off any liens before giving them a penny. They should show proof of title when you inspect the vehicle.

 

[Savij]

Originally posted by: kt
I don't get it. Did you pay off the car or did your bank pay off the car?

My bank gave me a check. I sent that check to the seller's bank. In the state of MA, you can't drive the car (no such thing as temp tags) without the title.

If the seller has a lein on the car, how should they sell it? I followed my bank's instructions on how to proceed with the sale. My bank says they don't deal with the other bank (apparently this is weird but they gave me really low rates on the loan), and they just give me a seperate check for his payoff amount. I followed their instructions on what to do: get seller's sig on a title release form, mail the check directly to the seller's bank

Is there something more I could/should have done here?