I wouldn't give a downpayment unless they're letting you drive away with it. If you're going to pay all of it at once, they should be willing to hold the car for a business day or so. Though I think they make more money if you finance.

Also, a cashier's check or something would probably be the way to move that much money around.

Though I think they make more money if you finance.

They totally do, but we've been good little savers and don't want a car payment.

Also, a cashier's check or something would probably be the way to move that much money around.

I figured that, but I just wasn't sure what the process was, once we've decided on a car we want and agreed on a price, we obviously won't have a cashier's check with us at that moment (because we couldn't know the final price until we negotiate), so mostly I was wondering what's required to get the dealer to hold the car for us and not sell it to the next person who comes along while we're at the bank.

You know, it'd be fun to pay for a car with cash.

ION, last night Anne and I finally decided that we're in a relationship.

Use Kelly Blue Book ( [link] ) to get a sense of the price point you should be expecting. There are some used car places - maybe cars.com? - that are no-negotiation. Or you can look on craigslist and have your mechanic check it out. My sense is that dealers are expecting negotiation and price high accordingly, but there are ways around the dealer.

Steph, the dealership should be able to give you the information necessary for an easy wire transfer. Ask your bank what would be required on their end.

Not as much fun as plunking canvas sacks with $ signs painted on them down on the manager's desk, but super quick and easy.

You should be able to write a personal check. If it doesn't clear they have a car they can repossess.

You should be able to write a personal check.

It genuinely didn't occur to me that I could write a personal check for 5 figures, I guess because I've never written a check that large.

I wrote a personal check when I bought mine. It was mind boggling to write that amount, but I didn't have any issues.

You can absolutely write a check. I did that with my last car.

Looking at CarMax might be a good plan since they don't negotiate and you can get a good idea what cars go for there even if you don't buy there. Tons of available inventory of cars on line. My nephew bought his last 2 vehicles off the internet. He lives in upstate NY but happily drove to Ohio for one and PA for the other because of the good deals.

I have purchased five cars from CarMax over the years and highly recommend them.