Question about buying a car in the USA from a private seller ( not a dealer)

[brads70]

Hi all!  
I Need some help/advice buying a replacement Suburban from a private individual.
If the seller says he "has the title in hand" does that mean there is no money owing on it? What I worried about is getting to the border to cross into Canada and then finding out the owner still owes money on it. Or worse yet it's stolen! Kinda leaning towards a dealership for this reason....?
Thanks Brad

[72cudamaan]

Hi all!  
I Need some help/advice buying a replacement Suburban from a private individual.
If the seller says he "has the title in hand" does that mean there is no money owing on it? What I worried about is getting to the border to cross into Canada and then finding out the owner still owes money on it. Or worse yet it's stolen! Kinda leaning towards a dealership for this reason....?
Thanks Brad

Brad, the title will state if there is a lien on it. Usually when someone here states they "have title in hand", they are
saying they have a clear title in their possession. If there was a lien on the title originally, then the owner would also have a "release of lein"
from the lienholder. Do NOT accept a title with a lien and no release.

[DoNotChallengeHer]

Brad, it should a stamp on the title and signed were the lien was released. If he had a bank loan on it , I doubt if he would have the title if it was not paid off. 

[Fern]

If there is money owed (bank loan) on the car then the bank holds the title until its paid off. Then after its paid off, the bank releases the title to the owner.

[brads70]

Thanks for the tips!    Anything else I should be careful of?

[DoNotChallengeHer]

Thanks for the tips!    Anything else I should be careful of?

when you go to the notary they will make sure ID's , title everything is in place .     

[ChallengerHK]

If there is money owed (bank loan) on the car then the bank holds the title until its paid off. Then after its paid off, the bank releases the title to the owner.

This varies by state. In NC I was told that it was illegal for the bank to hold my title even though I was still paying it off.

[DoNotChallengeHer]

Some states you can use a car for a personal loan and they will hold the title. Til said loan is paid off.

[blown motor]

Brad, the title needs to be faxed to US customs 72 hours before you arrive with the vehicle. When you fax it do so from a fax machine the can issue you a copy of the fax with the date and time printed on it that it was sent.

[brads70]

Brad, the title needs to be faxed to US customs 72 hours before you arrive with the vehicle. When you fax it do so from a fax machine the can issue you a copy of the fax with the date and time printed on it that it was sent.

Thanks  Ya I'm aware of all that, I haven't bought a vehicle in Canada ( except my work van) for 20 years now. I always get them from rust free states...

[74challenger03]

In the states people can take a loan on the titles so beware.

[brads70]

In the states people can take a loan on the titles so beware.

 Is that info stamped or written on the actual title somewhere?

[ted]

If there is money owed (bank loan) on the car then the bank holds the title until its paid off. Then after its paid off, the bank releases the title to the owner.

doesnt work that way in new york state

[HP_Cuda]

I can give you a Calif example Brad.

I just recently paid off my 2010 Fusion Hybrid and after I paid it off guess what I got in the mail? Yep you bet the "Pink slip" or it used to be pink funny how the show wasn't really up to date. Nowadays, the title is green. Problem being is that you can have the green title and someone could take a loan against it so I would do a lien search on the car before buying it.

Nothing worse than buying a car then having someone call you and say "I want my car back".

[brads70]

It's sounding scary not buying it from a GM dealer then? Is there a quick,cheap reliable way to do a title search?