Buying a car in the US; let's hear from the Canadians

I'm buying a car from the US. Hoping to pick it up at the end of the month. Even with the conversion rate right now (which is a lot better than just last month) It's a good deal. The seller wants cash. I get that, I'd want it to.

So here's the issue. The last two times I've crossed into the US (live in Toronto, I am a US citizen and cross on a US passport) I've been asked if I'm carrying a large amount of cash. Hmmmmmm. This article also circulated a while ago or so about cash seizure by police in the US.

Cops grab your money

I really don't want to carry cash and either declare it or lie about it (I'm terrible at the border; always think I'm seconds away from Guantanamo).

Solutions I've thought of; see if my bank has a US bank they do business with that could help (transfer money and then pick it up), see if I can convince the seller to take a certified check, or transfer the money to the seller or someone near the seller, pay cash for the sale.

Thoughts?

How much money are we talking about here? So far as I know you don't have to declare anything under $10,000 USD at the border. The civil asset forfeiture is a local/state police issue.

I recently saw news stories on citizens hassled for far less than $10K - one kid had $4K or something and TSA pulled him aside, confiscated the cash, etc... Probably depends on who you get at the border.

Coming back from Mexico from a wedding, we got a customs guy who's wife was about to leave him or something (which, I suppose, depends on one wanting to keep said wife, but I digress...). If I'd have had cash, this dude would've given me a cavity search. Not the dentist kind of cavity, either.

Phone Canada customs, and ask them. Then phone the US border services, and ask them. If you tell them you are carrying cash, and why, you should be fine.

Unless you look terroristy or drug dealerey.

A money order will probably get fewer questions than a duffel bag full of $20 bills, as well. But talk to your bank, there are ways to move money across the border without carrying actual physical papers.

US border guards can be a real crapshoot. I had one explain to me for about 20 minutes that "just because we told you your visa was approved before you got the paperwork doesn't mean anything unless I see it in the computer" before he actually looked it up in the computer and discovered that yes, my visa was approved. This was after a 2 hour wait in traffic to get to the crossing, they were that backed up, so it's not like he didn't have anything to do.

Meanwhile, some others are surprisingly helpful.

Honesty is the best policy. Declare the cash at the border. Take the ad with you along with all of the sellers info. You're doing absolutely nothing illegal or shady unless you lie to border security about it.

Just set it up with your bank to withdraw it from a US Bank in advance. I'm sure they can find you a location in the US close to the seller.

Wayslow wrote: Honesty is the best policy. Declare the cash at the border. Take the ad with you along with all of the sellers info. You're doing absolutely nothing illegal or shady unless you lie to border security about it.

Speaking of honesty, if the vehicle is advertised online, DO NOT TRY TO LIE ABOUT THE PRICE OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THEY ASSESS YOU TAX/DUTY ON IT.

Actually, just don't do it in general. But if they can look it up in 30 seconds online, you are in for a world of hurt if you don't tell the truth.