Cash vs. a check

[MrGompers]

Sounds reasonable to me.

[Sev]

Bank will also make up a Money Order for you. It's basically a cheque issued by the bank that you buy from them.

If the private seller has a problem with it, just go to the bank with him (and the bike title/key etc etc etc) have him deposit the Money Order, once it goes through he hands over the goods and you're good to go.

[Nalian]

I've not purchased a bike, but have purchased many cars. I've never had a problem with a dealer taking a personal check. If they did I would probably go somewhere else or get a cashier's check, as others have said.

[The Grinch]

I paid for my bike with a personal check, but I didn't pick it up for a week, which allowed ample time for the check to clear.

When I bought my current car, I also paid by check, and the dealer used a service to get the check immediately approved and the money transferred to the dealership account.

[CNF2002]

First time I bought a new car I wrote a check for the down payment. Didn't even have my checkbook! Signed all the paperwork and drove off with the car, the salesperson was getting off work so she dropped by my place and I gave her the check then!

[dieziege]

Yeah, personal checks for down payment are no problem... they know everything about you because you just signed up for a loan. I wrote a big personal check when I bought my financed car.

I don't know anyone who has successfully used a personal check to purchase a car though. Making a down payment isn't purchasing.

Maybe someone has... I just don't know them.

[MrGompers]

A friend of mine purchased a $22,000 car with a personal check so it does happen.

Just to elaborate a little more on the forgery of checks.

Some people made good suggestions about going to the bank in person with the seller to cash the check. Thats good, but I would think most private sales take place during non bank business hours.

While I don't think everyone is dishonest you need to be aware of the possiblities of forgery. I've seen forged cashier checks, money orders, and personal checks. Unless you know a little something about the numbering scheme on checks you will be fooled. These forgeries are very good.

I would also be suspicious of anyone who is too anxious to close the deal and refuses to wait until the bank opens. (even if that means waiting till Monday)

I wouldn't recommend making any downpayments on bikes/cars with personal checks either. If the deal goes sour it will be very difficult to get your money back from the dealer. If you make a downpayment with a credit card you can just call your credit card company and have them do a chargeback.

[Mustang]

The dealer has a system to check that ur check is good, or he can call any bank give them ur name and account number, they won;t give him ur balance, but they will say if the amount you wrote the check for is good or not. Dealers don't like keeping a lot of cash around

Nope. Not true.

I've worked for banks for the last ten years. Anyone can check (if the bank is willing to give out the information) if the account has availability of funds, but a check is only good once it's been cleared by the check owners banks.

If you want to get really boring about it, the clearing time for checks has been greatly reduced with new legislation called Check 21. The upside is all day banking ( no more 2pm cut off times for deposits/payments made in banks) downside is its nearly impossible to 'float' a check (which was considered illegal anyway...)

Personally I would never pay cash, always use Cashiers check or credit card....you create a payment history and therefore proof of a contract to sell goods, perform services, yada yada yada...

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