Do you have legal right to car if not on title but paying for loan?

Yes and No. If you are not on the 'title' and cannot show a 'contract of purchase' (bill of sale) or 'power of attorney' (dependent on your state) then any court or police agency will not give you custody or control of the vehicle. That would be the "no" section. The "Yes" can only be reached, as a legal question, if you: * Take the matter to civil court and get a judgment giving you a possessor interest (foreclosure type process, dependent on your state); * Go through a successful lien process, * Obtain a contract with the current title holders (finance company and person on the title) showing a possessor interest - assumption of loan, etc. Please understand that this is a basic question to a complicated process & question, there are other means of obtaining a legal interest in the car not discussed here.