I'm sure this has been talked to death in another thread but I haven't been able to find it.

I plan to drive about 200 miles to buy a $6,000 used vehicle from a complete stranger. The seller has the title in his hands and I have the money laying in the checking account. What is the safest most secure way to handle the money so the seller is confident he is getting paid and everyone is happy when the deal is done.

Money orders and cashier'* checks aren't so reliable these days. Green hundred dollar bills is do-able but there is some risk when carrying 60 of them around strangers.

Personal check is risky for the seller but I can pull up my online account and show him the balance as I right the check but that still has some risk to the seller.

If there are good threads already on the board please post links.

Thanks,
Tumbleweed

Money orders are risky. Not cashier'* checks.

Go to your bank and get a certified check. A certified check is GUARANTEED FUNDS at the time of check cut. A hold is put on your account for the amount of the check so you can't withdraw a large chunk of the money. The check is guaranteed to clear because of that hold. I'm surprised the seller doesn't know this.

I'd only pay with a certified check or cash. It protects him, more than you.

For his protection, don't get money orders. Banks frown on cashing them because there'* so much fraud involved, and because banks seldom are ever able to recover the losses.

I was just about to say the same thing that Vital said. You can't go wrong that way