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.

Also if you are buying a NEW car, Costco has arranged deals with people? Maybe not the best best price but no negotiating required?

That's awesome, tommy! Although I will admit to a slight double take when I read your post.

Yay, tommy!