buying a bike - question about title

[hairykc12]

what if somebody is selling a used bike but still has payments on it and asks for your money first so he can pay it off right away then he'll give you the title when it comes in? he'll give you the bike and everything else when you pay, but you dont get the title right away since he doesnt have it yet.

does this type of sale happen often? is it still safe to buy?

 

[jimbert]

I think you can get the payments transferred to you and then the title will come to you after it's paid off. I wouldn't give anyone any money without something immediate in return (like a contract or the title itself).

 

[ridernextdoor]

I've done it before. I was the seller. He gave me the money, I gave him my car, wrote up a little note that says, he will get the title after I paid the car off, we both signed it and made copies. I then used the money to pay it off, title came after a month, called him up to let him know it was ready. I signed it over to his name, and off he went.

I'm sure there's a better way, as in trading your car at the dealership. Any car salesman here care to tell us how you deal with the title, upon trade-in?