[Steve Carlton]

You'll need to provide the payoff amount up to the amount of the purchase price, and certified funds will allow them to release the title faster. Get permission to discuss the transaction with the lienholder, as you want to make sure the title comes to you. How quickly you can get the title depends on the lienholder, from instantly (on site) to two weeks. Some states have "paperless" titles, and the lienholder requests the state to issue one when title transfers.

You'll need to get your ducks in a row by discussing it with the DMV as well to make sure you've got the right paperwork for a clean transfer. You want to be secure, since you've paid off someone else's loan!

You could also consider putting a deposit on a car and asking the seller to get the title in hand for the final payment and transfer. Doing that in person at the DMV would be a good idea.