Buying car straight out from small used car dealer

[Slickone]

I imagine cash is bad. Is it OK to pay with personal check, or do I need a cashiers check? Problem is I can only go to the place on Sat/Sun and my bank will be closed. I'd have to go back a week later.

Also, do I have to sign the As Is statement if not buying a warranty?
I'll probably pay for a Carfax.

 

[acemcmac]

They'll take a personal check, but don't be surprised if they call the bank to make sure it's okay. I think thats standard.

 

[d33pt]

i pay with cash. what's wrong with that?

 

[mugs]

I paid for a new car with a personal check, they didn't have a problem with that.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

Personal Check is fine

 

[Homerboy]

creditcard(s)!!! earn the points/cash back/miles whatever
bought 2 cars that way

 

[Budmantom]

food stamps???

 

[thomsbrain]

credit card or personal check is fine. cash is a must for private party sales, though.

 

[KarenMarie]

why is cash bad?

When I bought my Passat, I used one of those ZERO % interest credit card offers. It took them 5-7 business days to transfer the cash to my account. I gave the dealer a check, explained the situation and asked that he sit on the check for 7 business days. he agreed. when the cash hit my bank account, 4 days later, i withdrew the cash, handed it over to the dealer and got me check back.

paying off the car at $1,000 a month, no interest.

edit: also, most dealers... even small ones... work together with finanacing companies. if you need to go that route. and in answer to your second question... i think it depends on your state. from what the guy where i got my car said, he needed to get signatures on three different AS IS warranty release forms to protect himself. He said that NJ regulation requires it for him in a CYA move.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Homerboy
creditcard(s)!!! earn the points/cash back/miles whatever
bought 2 cars that way

I don't think many car dealerships would let you put the entire car on a credit card, unless it was really cheap.

 

[Slickone]

Ah cool. I just thought cash might be bad for record keeping purposes. But personal check means not having to w/d and carry it around.

BTW, when someone suggests doing a title search, does CarFax cover that?

 

[amdforever2]

If the car dealership takes credit cards, and they try to impose a maximum amount you can put on your credit card, they are violating their merchant agreement.

No minimum.
No maximum.
No charge to use credit.
No id required on a signed card.

All those rules are part of the merchant agreement.