Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Ok so what leeway does cash buy you over a check?

I'm talking about dealing with a dealer, a used cycle, whatever. Why are people more ready to take cash than a check? Because the check may bounce?

Only reason I can think of, and granted it's a big reason, but I wanna know if there's something else that I'm missing.



The reason I ask is I can't imagine carrying thousands of dollars on my person. Maybe I'm just more paranoid than others.

Cash is instant money, no having to go to the bank, no dealing with (you're right) the possibility of a bounced check, no complications. Plus, one little piece of paper with a number on it isn't as impressive as several hundred dollar bills, or even a stack of twenties.

Will they even take a check?

When I bought my 250, I asked the dealer whether they preferred cash or cashier's check... they preferred the cashier's check. I never asked them whether they would take a personal check but I wouldn't if I was running a dealership.

Cash allows for leeway in taxing if its used, and with the dealer, but only the brave (or stupid) ones.

I have never had trouble with a dealer taking a check. Money is money, besides can't they run a debit card just as easily?

Debit card may not be possible.

My bank has a $500/day debit limit normally and will only one-time authorize up to $2000... not enough to buy much of a bike. I know because I was planning on debit-carding my latest bike.

Bank suggested running it through as a credit card... but dealer wouldn't do that unless I paid an extra $60 (I know, they were violating their card processing agreement... frankly I'd rather the CC processors didn't get the $60, so I got a cashier's check instead).

What's a cashier's check?


I couldn't do CC anyways. My limit is $700 (and I like it that way).



I just don't want to go to some random strangers house with thousands of dollars on me, for obvious reasons.

"A cashier's check (also known as a treasurer's check, bank check, or teller's check) is a check issued by a bank on its own account for the amount paid to the bank by the purchaser with a named payee, and stating the name of the party purchasing the check (the remitter).

"The check is usually received as cash since it is guaranteed by the bank and does not depend on an account of a private individual or business. Cashier's checks are commonly used when payment must be credited immediately upon receipt for business, real estate transfers, tax payments and the like."
-- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cashier%27s_check

Good points are that you aren't carying cash and the payment is guaranteed (the bank debits or puts a hold on your account when they give you the check) so the seller has no excuse to refuse it. Well... one excuse: they think it is counterfit... but a call to the bank can verify a cashier's check so there is no real risk... and if you don't buy, you take it back to the bank and they credit your account again.

The cash vs check depends on the situation. If you are doing a transaction with a private seller cash would be preferred. If your concerned about safety you can do a couple things such as;

Meet at a public place (mall parking lots are good)
Bring many BIG friends.

If you are buying from a dealer a check should be fine. If they are unwilling to accept a check go to another dealer. They shouldn't expect you to carry thousands of dollars around in cash.

I suppose with a dealer you could also compromise and not take possesion of the bike/cage until the check clears. If you are doing business inside the same state that should take 2 business days. If they say it takes longer they are lying.

FWIW, cashiers checks can be easily forged. Do not accept cashiers checks for private sales.

I know this because I used to work at a bank. Every week we received fraud alerts from the state. At the top of the list there was always cashiers checks.

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