Q. Who is authorized to get payoffs on auto loans?

A. Payments should be made to the lender holding the title to your car, whether it's a bank, a credit union, the finance division of an automaker or, in an unusual case, an individual.

The goal of making those payments, and especially of making a payoff, is to fulfill the requirements of your loan and get a free and clear title to your car. You will need that when it comes time to sell it or trade it in.