Tips on Buying Cars: buying a car in PA, jim sears, leinholder

Question
I'm trying to buy a car in Pennsylvania from a private seller. The seller's lienholding bank informed us that the lien must be paid off first and then the bank will order the title. Since I was going to pay for the car with a cashier's check (a loan check from another bank), the process of waiting for the check to clear and then waiting for the title to be processed could easily take three weeks. Meanwhile, the seller would still have the car and I'd have nothing. (Incidentally, the seller doesn't have the money to pay off the loan beforehand.) Does this process doesn't make any sense at all? What if, while waiting for the title, the seller totals the car?

Answer
Hi Skip: No, No, No,. This is how it works. You are paying with a Bank Certified Check, therefore the payment is secured. Be certain that the check is made out to the Seller as the name appears on the title, and the leinholder. You then take possession of the vehicle and await the title to be processed to your name, or your Bank's name as leinholder, whatever. Most States allow 30 days for a dealer or Leinholder to process the title paperwork. Advise the seller, that his leinholder has been notified and approved the sale of his vehicle, so that there is no recourse to him. He will probrably feel better about releasing the car then. I would NEVER pay for a vehicle and let the seller keep it, pending his bank releasing the title. A cashier's check from your bank should clear immediately, so I don't believe there is an issue with that. If there is a problem still with your seller after all of that, I would walk away, something stinks.  Thanks, Jim Sears.