Title and lien releases

[deroanth]

Hello everyone, got a question about titles and lien releases if anyone could provide some insight.

I am from NJ, and picking up my 1'er tomorrow from a NY owner. He will be driving it over jersey side and I will be towing it or registering it and driving it back, leading to my question...

My bank sent over a check to his for the amount owed and it has been paid off. His bank sent the lien release letter over to my bank so I do not have possession of it yet. If I pull up the VIN on the NYS DMV site it says it has 0 liens but the physical title still has his bank as the lien holder. Could I register the car in NJ without the lien release letter or would it be safer to just tow it home and not have to worry about them telling me I cant register it and driving it back illegally or having nowhere to bring the car.