This car searching can be an .....
 

educational experience. Perhaps you legal fellows or lawyers can enlighten me. So I ask for a Carfax on a Miata I am interested in. The seller sends it to me via email. It shows there is a lien on the car with the bank being the creditor.If I bought the car how would I know that he is going to apply my purchase proceeds to his loan. So I could not get a bill of sale stating that there is no liens against the car because there is. How could a person be sure of getting a clear title? Nothing worse than buying a car and I get a notice saying there is money owing on it. How does one make sure of getting clear title? Buying from a Mazda dealer may be better because they have a reputation to uphold.

Your thoughts are always appreciated!

PS Yesterday I wanted to make an offer on a Miata(also 200 miles away) and the salesman of the used car lot said he wanted my credit car number to secure the car.
With that comment I said we were done.


Likely I won't pursue either of these situations!

This might help. Seems accurate: How to Buy a Vehicle From a Private Seller With a Lien on the Title - Budgeting Money

Thanks wildthing. That looks like a good plan.:)
Guy

I looked at a 924 Turbo for 3000 once. The dealer wanted a hundred to hold it.

Wished I had done it the next day... It was a very nice car for the money, and ran like a top. He might have been doing you a favor, so Remember that next time.

BTW, Miatas are as common as cornflakes. Get a good one, but be ready to buy when you find the right one. Also, try to buy from an enthusiast. Good luck.

I've just always skipped on buying a car where the owner doesn't have the title (with no liens).

I sold a car years ago that I owed money on, we did the transaction at the bank where the tile was being held, the note was paid off, I got the left over money and the buyer got the title

+1

this...it is done all the time when a car is local and the bank has a branch.

Good approach if the seller or bank holds the title. They pay off the loan, bank signs the lien release, and you are done. Much more challenging if the state in question has electronic titles. In that case we still do the transaction at the bank to insure that the car is actually paid off, then there's a little trust involved because the title will be sent to the seller. Though in some cases you can have them sign a power of attorney and mail the title directly to you.

This is a question where the answer will differ in every state. Best to call your local DMV for more info.

This, more or less. ^^^

It's not complicated.

Yes good point Daniel. I might take a drive out of town in the next couple of weeks to check this one out. It is a used car dealer so I tend to be sceptical of these but worth a look anyway.

Thanks Rick. I like your no nonsense approach.:)

Well I know.
I bought another car off Craigslist
Hot rodded by an enthusiast (a track junkie) that had his s*** together........that is doubly difficult.

Nice car, everything works and I paid for it. The mods are pretty much what I would have done. There are a bunch of Miatas out there.....but not a lot of sellers with their s*** on straight....I consider my self lucky. There are a few dislikes, but nothing major.

Miata owners are NOT like Porsche owners, in my experience. Finding one with some real automobile knowledge is the trick.

I bought the Carfax on the 2006 NC which belonged to a used car dealer. The car was bought at auction and has had several accidents - about 6 with damage up to the $6k and as little as $1k. That deters me from driving 3 hours to look at it. Not worth the risk. I will keep on looking....

I've bought or sold more cars with liens on them than without.

It's not complicated.

You call the bank, they give you a payoff amount that is valid for X days, you send the bank a check and give seller the difference, bank gives you a lien release so when you title in your name the lien comes off.