[Steve Carlton]

If you're financing it, your bank/credit union can handle the payoff of the title with the other lender. If you're not financing it, you can discuss it with the seller's lender (he will probably need to give them his permission for you to talk with them). A lot of times, they will send the signed off title directly to you if they have it. If it has a paperless title, the DMV will mail it out after being instructed to do so by the current lienholder, and probably it will go to the previous owner. Find out up front before you stress out about this or that.

If the current lender has the title, you might need them to advance it to the lender's branch so they can give it to you. A lot of times they're in some central office somewhere else.

I've done deals where a cashier's check is FedEx'd to the current lender with instructions to send it to the buyer. The seller makes sure the check is good (and can't be cancelled), and any difference goes to the buyer or the seller, depending if there's positive or negative equity. You both watch the check and the paperwork/instructions go into a FedEx box. You need to make sure everything is set up and understood in advance. Even if you don't get the title, you've got the car and paperwork showing you paid for the car.