Paying by personal or bank cheque has traditionally been a preferred method. It’s quick and easy, but not without its problems

	Carrying a cheque is safe as they can only be paid in by the recipient
	It is unlikely that a seller will let you take the car until the cheque has cleared in their bank account, meaning you’ll need to arrange collection at a later date

One of the safest ways to pay is by electronic transfer which moves money directly between bank accounts.

There are several types of electronic transfer process, and not all banks and building societies use them all, so speak to your bank to find out which is the most appropriate.