Other than going to the bank with a buyer for all cash, what is the safest form of payment?

Planning on taking a 20% deposit on a boat and hauling it almost 900 miles and then exchanging titles and a check.

Whats the safest check to accept - cashiers? bank draft?

I dont foresee any issues at all, but its alot of money and need to be covered.

Certified chaeck from bank is usually good, if you are that worried you need to make sure you know who you are dealing with, address, Name, SS#, Have a written sales agreement. Basically enough information so if teh funds bounce you can track them and the property down.

WILL

Moneyorder is like cash just on paper and only the person who its made out to can cash it.

Wire transfer is safe and fast. You can verify the funds are in your account before he takes possession of the boat. This is how I bought my boat last fall. I traveled 1300 miles to pick it up. Naturally, the seller was leary of a check. Once I was happy with the boat, I gave the go ahead for the wire transfer. We went together to his bank to sign the title and get the bill of sale notarized.

,,,i quess the future is here.LOL

NO NO Casier Check NO Money Order, I can print them all day long on a good printer and you would never now the difference.
Electronic transfer the only way!!!!

I like the wire transfer the best because you know the money is there.
While a Cashiers check or Money order is probably good, the banks won't guarantee anything until the check clears.

I have had cashiers checks, bank drafts, and personal checks all go bad on me related to vehicle sales. The only 2 safe options are cash counted/scanned by the bank or wire transfer.

Wire transfers can be reversed. All checks can have holds put on them or stop pays. Cash is king, but if yu have the cashiers check drawn on a bank that you use, it can be verified.

Nothing is guaranteed except cash. I have made a lot of transactions on faith. I guess we all have.

Escow services will work, they just usually have a fee involved.

Just take the deposit and don't deliver until it has posted.

All ways of doing it have positives and negatives for the both seller and buyer.

In my last 2 transactions, I was a buyer and seller.
Buyer gave cashiers check and a chunk of cash to seller. Buyer took boat with a purchase contract/bill of sale. Seller sent the title after the cashiers check cleared the bank.