do dealers keep a cars title untill the car is paid for?

Answer 1

No. The car is registered in your name, so you are the owner. However, there will be a note on the "title" that there is a lien on the vehicle, and the lien holder will be listed. So you have to clear the lien before the vehicle can be sold, basically.

The dealer don't hold the title because they aren't always the ones who do the financing!

Answer 2

Depends on what state you live in. In some states the dealer has to release the title right away and you transfer it to your name as the registered owner, but the dealership is the legal owner. Other states do not require the dealer to sign over the title until the vehicle is totally paid for, because this way, if you don't pay the full price or fail to make timely payments, the bank or dealership can repossess the car and has the legal right to do so, because you don't own any rights to that car without the title in your name.

Answer 3

Whoever "owns" the car does. If you finance through a dealer... they do. If you finance through a bank, they do.

When you finance the car, you are promising the actual owner of the car that you will pay them for it. You will get the title mailed to you once the car is paid for.

Answer 4

Whoever finances the vehicle is the title holder but you will receive a duplicate copy of the title. It is non negotiable though.

Answer 5

NOPE. You get the title but it shows that you are the REGISTERED owner and the finance company is the LEGAL owner. And you are still responsible to have Insurance and all maintenance of vehicle.

Answer 6

If you are ever pulled over by the cops, the first thing that they are going to ask for is your driver's license, title, and registration. You'd better have all three on you.