Overhaulin'

What measures should be taken when I buy a 2nd hand car in CASH?

I wanted to pay by Check, but he wants the money in Cash. Now I am in confusion, How to pay in cash without a witness, as Iam new to this place & no one to come with me as witness, what to do! Thank you for your valuable reply.

Public Comments

1. you need to get the car checked out by a mechanic,the AA or RAC do these checks for a small fee.and make sure he actually owns the car and its not stolen.
2. Money order. They are cheap to get (A lot of banks will give them for free if you have an account) and you have proof that you paid him if there is an issue. A money order is just as good as money for him. So if he doesn't want to accept it, something is fishy. If you absolutely have to pay cash. Just have him write you a receipt and have him sign it. That would hold up in court if things go south.
3. Trade the cash for the title.
4. Assuming you're happy with the car (not that it's stolen, an insurance write-off, etc.) and the paperwork (that you're getting the V5 appropriately completed etc.), and that therefore your question is only about the payment, then: you don't need a witness, you just need a proof that you've paid. You need to get the seller to give you a signed receipt ("in full payment of car make/model... and registration number...") with the paperwork, that ought to do it. If you want, you can also prepare a simple sales contract that both of you sign, which together with the said receipt and the registration documents is definitely all you need.
5. Don't give anyone ANY kind of money until you run the VIN to check if it's been declared a loss already. (Salvaged). I forget the website,but it's something like carfax.com. DO IT! My son and I got ripped totally off by buying a truck from someone who didn't disclose anything. And I didn't ask or check.
6. I just did that 2 months ago. I've already spent $2,000.00 on repairs. Don't do it!!!!!! I've drove it 3 days in 2 months!
7. I've bought several cars from both private sellers and dealers, and the one thing I've learned best is that if you don't know the person well enough that they'll take your check, you don't know them well enough to buy a car from them.
8. 2007 and people still buy cars in CASH? Simple answer Don't !
9. some people just dont have a bank account to pay a check into and dont want to wait up to 10 days for it to clear. if youre doing a deal at what you assume to be his house then it should be legit rather than a carpark somewhere for example. Ask him if hes got id with a photo to prove who he is if he has and hes got all the documents for the car mot, reg document etc than i would assume hes legit. are you working? someone at work who can go with you maybe. or a neighbour you must have one of them and it will help you start to talk to them. good luck
10. Not positive about all the factors, but you definitly need to get the pink slip, and possibly the owner's manual (if he has it).