RE: BEST WAY TO PAY FOR/SELL A CAR:

[Stewart G Griffin]

What i meant was, obviously we are going to be dealing with currency in most cases.  What i'm talking about is, for instance, this particular example:

1) For part of my master plan for the next six months is to buy a used newer cavalier/cobalt and i'm aiming to pay around $3000.  i'm uncomfortable with physically carrying $3000 around.  i think the meet at the bank idea is good.  But what if that isn't possible or for some reason the seller doesn't want to do that?
Plus, we also should get into things like the way i want to do this is to get tags for it and insure it before moving it.  But you need the title for this.  And most sellers won't sign it over until you pay for the car?  So, what if you pay for it, then goto the DMV get insurance etc.;  The car is still at the seller's place and what if something happens to it, gets stolen etc before you get back to it to take it away?

2) What if the car is $15,000?  i can do $3000 if i had to, but carrying around $15,000 i don't think is a good idea.

a) What if the car is $15,000 and out of state/area?

[ccz145a]

Bank Draft or Cashiers check.

You always have a grace period for tags and insurance. My ins co gives me 30 days to tell them when I've bought a car. Until then it automatically gets the corverage for the least covered vehicle in the stable. State laws are different, too. Here you can get a tag without proof of insurance... but you have to have it and say that you have it, they just don't make you proove it (until an accident, infraction, roadblock, or sometimes a visit to a state park).

Visit your state's dmv site and read the rules, it will all be spelled out.

[choptop]

Stewart, Im beginning to worry about you friend. There are multiple things that can go wrong if you look for them. Dont worry about it, it will be ok. For larger cash transactions, most banks can do a wire transfer straight from your account to theirs and vise-versa. Like cc145a said, most insurance companies have a grace period on coverage. With our insurance company, we can call, give a serial number, and within a few minutes have insurance, and an insurance card in an e-mail waiting at home to print off, or print off anywhere you can access a computer. In Texas, you cannot get tags, or registation unless you show proof of insurance. If your insurance wont back you up long enough to get the vehicle home, you need another insurance company.
  Ill be honest, I trailer most of the trucks and cars I buy. Not because they wont drive, but because that way I dont have to try to figure how to get two vehicles back (mine and the new purchase) Plus, the way my trucks are insured, anything that is on my trailer that is attatched to my truck is fully covered.

[fitz]

Like Choptop said, call your insurance company. In Mass you just your insurance company and you can get a binder to add your new purchase to your existing policy.