Yes, you can sell a car you still owe money on. It happens constantly, and it is usually simpler than people expect — the loan just has to be settled as part of the sale rather than before it.
What a lien actually is
If you financed the car, your lender holds a lien against the title. The title cannot transfer to a buyer until the loan is paid and the lender releases it. The car is yours to sell; the lender simply has first claim on the money.
The three situations
The car is worth more than you owe. The straightforward case. The payoff goes to your lender, and the difference comes to you.
You owe roughly what it is worth. The sale clears the loan and you walk away even. Many people are relieved simply to stop the payments.
You owe more than it is worth. Called being upside down. You cover the difference to release the title. Worth knowing before you start, not after.
What to have ready
- Your lender’s name and your account number
- A 10-day payoff quote — call your lender and ask for exactly that
- Your driver’s licence, matching the name on the loan
- Current registration if you have it
The payoff quote is the number that matters. It is not your balance and not your remaining payments — it is what settles the loan today, and it is the figure any buyer will work from.
Where the title actually is
With a lien you usually do not hold the physical title; your lender does, or the Nevada DMV holds it electronically. That is normal and it does not stop the sale. It does mean a few extra steps, which is worth expecting rather than being surprised by.
Selling to us with a loan on the car
We pay the bank directly. Tell us the lender and the payoff figure when you contact us, and the loan is settled as part of the sale rather than something you have to sort out first.
If you owe more than the car is worth, you will hear that from us before anything is scheduled. Nobody enjoys finding that out in a driveway.
