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Walking up to a car dealership with a duffle bag of cash seems like something from a movie. But, in real life, yes, you can buy a car with physical currency, depending on the dealer.
While some consider it more than a bit suspicious, others are inclined to accept cold, hard cash buyers. Stick around to discover all the ins and outs of purchasing a car with physical dollars right here.
Key Takeaways
Purchasing a car with cash is a red flag because it is a rare event at a dealership. Electronic payments are more convenient and more common.
As outlined below, physical cash is incredibly hard to trace, raising alarm bells for some dealers. To prevent triggering a refusal, you're better off paying electronically if possible
A car dealership may elect to refuse a cash purchase because they don't feel comfortable enough tracking the sale or they suspect foul play.
Dealerships may refuse cash deals for several viable reasons, even though cash is legal tender and you should be able to use paper currency to buy a vehicle. However, private businesses withhold the right to refuse service for anything — big piles of cash included.
Despite how it may feel, they aren't trying to be difficult. Here are the three main reasons dealerships consider cash suspicious:
Fake usable credit cards are nearly impossible to fashion, but the same cannot be said for cold hard cash. The world is filled with counterfeit paper dollars.
While banks don't fall for fake money, many faux forms go unnoticed. Without proper training, you're likely to miss the telltale (but subtle) clues that set counterfeit currency apart from the rest.
And dealerships know this. Thus, they're apprehensive when presented with great wads of cash. Since finding somebody who's used fake cash is challenging, dealers prefer a more reliable transaction type.
The low traceability factor makes it the go-to tender for criminal organizations.
Granted, you aren't a criminal for carrying cash. After all, authentic paper currency is legal and used by everybody from time to time. But from a criminal's point of view, cash lets them profit from illegal acts while concealing revenue from the Internal Revenue Service and law enforcement.
With that in mind, buying a car with cash could be the ideal way to offload such gains and create a legitimate purchase with legal paperwork.
You can't tell whether a piece of paper currency was stolen. Hence, nobody (generally speaking) leaves their net worth in actual cash nowadays. Anybody who finds cash can claim it for themselves, knowing there's next to no chance of being proven wrong.
Of course, dealerships are savvy to this fact. Not only do they want to avoid accepting stolen money, but they don't want duffel bags of cash languishing in their offices. They'd become a massive target for theft, necessitating higher security levels to keep everything safe.
Aside from all the above, dealerships don't make as much money when you pay cash. Their immense profitability lies in vehicle financing. Even though they don't receive a lump sum upfront, they'll benefit from a higher level of profit in the long run.
On top of that, some lenders incentivize dealerships to boost the chances of encouraging shoppers to select finance options over cash buys.
With a car lease, the dealership is lending you the money. You'll receive a set term within which you'll lease your vehicle, allowing you to drive it for two years and switch it out for something else if you aren't feeling it (or pay the rest off if you're in love with the wheels).
It's a workable solution for those who don't have the money upfront to get a high-quality vehicle.
Car loans, akin to leases, offer a pathway to vehicle ownership by providing financial assistance. Unlike leases, the car loan process involves a distinct two-step dance. As a prospective car owner, you engage with a separate lender, such as Simple Fast Loans, to secure the necessary funds for your purchase.
The heart of the car loan experience lies in structured repayments over a set number of months, gradually covering the loan amount. This borrower-lender partnership not only offers a systematic and flexible repayment plan but also empowers you to tailor the financing journey to your financial capacity and preferences. In essence, understanding the dynamics of a car loan equips you with the knowledge needed to navigate the realm of automotive financing and make informed decisions on your quest to own the vehicle of your dreams.
If you're erring on the side of leasing or loaning the car/money instead of paying in full with cash, you can use free online calculators to accurately assess how much you'll pay each month.
Regardless of how much you earn, you should have a budget in place. So, you can skip the guesswork and know for sure whether you can afford vehicle financing by using a calculator ahead of time.
Everything in life comes with positives and negatives; buying cars with cash is no exception. Despite most dealers wanting to skip cash transactions, some allow them for a few reasons, such as:
Wire and card transactions are the most common methods of buying a car. However, they can come with expensive transaction charges. Thus, some dealers prefer cash — no digital transfer, no charge.
Steadfast return policies should be on your mind when buying a car. However, dealerships can be sneaky about their terms and conditions when you pay with paper currency. It's a win for them, but not for you.
Thankfully, many dealers honor cash returns. That said, don't forget to check your contract. If you pay in cash, you might not have any legal legs to stand on if you want/need to give it back.
Once cash is exchanged, neither you nor the dealer need to wait. You can drive the car off the lot without worrying about mileage restrictions or other dealer-imposed rules. The dealer gets the price upfront. Everyone is a winner.
Regardless of how much you want to avoid scams, they are out there — on both sides of the coin. Some buyers take advantage of dealerships that accept cash, while some dealerships take advantage of buyers' trust.
So, whether you're buying or selling, stay safe with the below suggestions:
Before paying cash, always check the vehicle's history and title. This is the only way to ensure it's legitimate. Asking for copies of the paperwork before handing over the money is the best practice when purchasing through a dealer. Due diligence is the name of the game.
Take care when heading to the dealership, too. Carrying lots of cash is unsafe, especially in areas with high crime rates.
Dealerships should have their methods in place for deciding whether or not to accept cash. However, independent sellers should only accept cash at a bank, so the staff can count it and ensure each note is genuine.
If you're set on buying a car with paper currency, follow this three-step guide to ensure it goes your way:
Regardless of how you're paying, always find a reputable dealer. Without trust, you should relinquish your hard-earned cash.
Here are a few tips to ensure you never succumb to unscrupulous dealerships:
You should never agree to hand over your cash (or mention it) until you've sorted out the final price. This is particularly true for dealerships. Holding back will likely give you a better deal, allowing you to use your skills to negotiate an even more attractive cost upon bringing the cash to the table.
To negotiate like a pro, follow these tips:
If you aren't comfortable negotiating, a no-haggle price may be the way forward. Just keep in mind that it will not be the best deal.
Keeping the receipt is a must-do. While this is true for every transaction, it's even more important for cash payments — unscrupulous dealers could otherwise claim you never paid.
Dealerships who receive cash payments over $10,000 must file Form 8300 with the IRS. It offers valuable information to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) and the Internal Revenue Service in their endeavors to fight money laundering.
So, if you pay for a car with more than $10,000 of physical currency, your transaction must be reported to the IRS. Failure to file the Form 8300 within 15 days of the transaction can result in the following civil penalties:
When readers checked out information on buying a car with cash, here are some other questions they asked.
Heading to a dealership with a briefcase full of cash may lead to them refusing the sale due to concern with the transaction type. As mentioned earlier, cash is easy to steal and fake.
If they do accept cash, you will pay in the same way as any other outright vehicle purchase. You won't have to worry about monthly payments, but you will need a relatively large sum upfront to be accepted.
The Bank Secrecy Act notes financial institutions are obliged to help US government agencies in catching and preventing money laundering. One of the many ways they do this is by reporting cash transactions exceeding $10,000. Those who don't want to arouse suspicion must deposit less than $10,000 cash in a day. Depending on the frequency of smaller transactions, though, this isn't a guaranteed way to avoid being reported to the IRS.
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