I have a question about buying a car that has never happened to me until Monday.

[AZLD4Candidate]

I just bought my camaro at a small dealership here in Tucson.

I have financing through my credit union and have met the terms of the loan.

I took possession of the car, which has temporary plates, a week ago. Dealer told me that the emissions and registration with the State were completed, which I have evidence of in my files.

We agreed to meet at my credit union on Monday to settle the lien with the credit union and give the dealer the down payment, which I offered in cash three times before, which he refused to take.

The dealer never came. Since then, the dealer's phone numbers have been disconnected and I cannot get a hold of the dealer.

When I get the plates, I will assume I will get the title. If that happens, my question is. . .have I bought a car without paying for it, since if the title is including with the plates and registration, I legally own the car?

Again, this has never happened to me and I want to remain honest. I did this in good faith, even the credit union says we both can do nothing until the dealer fulfills their end of everything.

If the dealer skipped town, what do I do to make it legally mine? I am in Arizona.

[elleng]

1. Weird, let us know!

'My' dealer keeps writing me, and as large and well-established, I expect everything to go smoothly; plates will be attached after they arrive.

NOW have to find TITLE of OLD car, so I can contribute it (to my public radio station.)

[Sanity Claws]

2. Hmmm.

A legit dealership does not close up like that. Check whether it was a legit business by looking up business licenses with the city or state. If it is not legit, don't be surprised if the car is really stolen.
I'm not going to claim to know how the alleged dealer got a temporary registration for you but something is seriously off.

[AZLD4Candidate]

4. They are a registered business with a license and are registered with the BBB

[Tomconroy]

3. Boy, that is a strange one.

I would be a little surprised if you actually do get the title. I am assuming from your story it was dealer financing. If you do get the title, you can't pay someone who isn't there. So enjoy the ride.
If you don't get the title, it is sort of a mess.

[AZLD4Candidate]

5. Financing through my credit union, not the dealer.

5.5% APR was better than 29.9% APR.

Stupid I am not.

[Tomconroy]

11. I missed that. Sorry

If you have actually signed the loan documents I hope you get the title. Otherwise it becomes even more of a mess.

[AZLD4Candidate]

18. Couldn't sign because the dealer, who appeared after a while to be lacking a bit marbles,

never gave the CU the info to release the funds. It's been sitting in escrow.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

6. This is truly bizarre.

Have you actually gone to the location of that dealership to see if anyone is there?

I've actually written a brief "How to buy a used car" thing that I share. One of the bullet points is that if you are not comfortable for any reason at all at a particular dealership, leave. There are lots of other dealers out there.

Please let us know the eventual outcome.

[MLAA]

7. How many employees appeared to work at the dealership?

Or was it maybe a one man show? I’m from Tucson and there are plenty of very small car lots.

If it is very small, just wondering if the owner got sick. Really weird. Please keep us updated!

And good luck!

[AZLD4Candidate]

12. It was a one man show.

[PoliticAverse]

8. Whether the car is legally yours and whether you (and to whom) you owe money may be different things

As to the Arizona title, I'd see... https://azdot.gov/motor-vehicles/vehicle-services/vehicle-title-and-registration

[rsdsharp]

9. Ask whatever the title authority in your county or state

who holds the title to the car with your Vin number. And if there are any liens on it. It’s possible you bought a hot car.

[AZLD4Candidate]

13. Sheriff's office gave me a website to check if it's reported stolen

It isn't. No liens, no brands. Clean title.

[intheflow]

10. Very weird.

Maybe you've been punked by your Fairy Godfather?

[TreasonousBastard]

14. No idea what Arizona laws are like, but it looks like you got away with a car without the...

down payment, and that is all so far. You still have the loan with the credit union, and they should be on the title. What, if anything, does the credit union say about this?

It sounds very strange, and highly illegitimate until you get whatever the paperwork Arizona gives you.

[AZLD4Candidate]

15. Credit union needs the paperwork showing the sale happened

in order to release the money.

When my plates come, I hope the title is in there.

If it did, I think you're right and I bought a car for $0.

[ShazzieB]

20. You wouldn't get the title until the loan is paid off.

Lender holds title until then.

Every time we have bought a car on credit, we got the title in the mail AFTER we made the last payment.

[AZLD4Candidate]

21. We didn't even get that far. We were supposed to do that at the CU who would hold the lien

on Monday. He would give the CU the info they needed, the CU would do the lien, and I'd pay the DP.

Dealer never came.

[left-of-center2012]

22. Don't you get a title with a lien on it?

I last bought a car in 2001 in San Diego and it seems I received a title that showed a lien to Ford motor company.

My memory may be wrong or things may have changed in 20 years.

[luckone]

16. Only a week passed between the last conversation and the phone being disconnected?

Even if covid or dead the line would not disconnect at a business like that . I assume this was a car lot that had many cars on it Was this a business you can return to physically ?

You did not finance there but did you give a lot of secure info to him to get title change?
Did you meet with him inside the actual business ? If so I would return to see what’s going on for more clues

[AZLD4Candidate]

17. We spoke face to face on Saturday. Monday it was out of service.

We made a plan to meet at the CU at 16:00 because I am in school until 15:30 on Friday when I picked up the car, given the keys, emissions, signed all paperwork, etc.

Dealer never came.

[Quemado]

19. Have you talked to a lawyer about this?

I would assume that the dealer would have the title. Do you have a signed sales contract?