Cash sale — What You Need to Know
The full purchase price is paid in cash (or cash equivalent) at the time of sale. No financing, installment payments, or deferred payment is involved.
Seller guidance
Accepting cash eliminates chargeback risk, but brings IRS reporting obligations. If you receive more than $10,000 in cash in one transaction (or related transactions), you must file IRS Form 8300 (Report of Cash Payments Over $10,000 Received in a Trade or Business) within 15 days. Ensure you provide a receipt and accurate bill of sale to document the transaction.
Buyer guidance
Carry large sums of cash only after verifying the vehicle title and condition. Use a cashier's check or wire transfer for high-value vehicles to reduce risk. Bring the seller to the bank if needed to verify funds. Once cash changes hands, recovery of fraud is very difficult.
Legal note (Georgia-specific)
GA cash sales are subject to 6.6% TAVT based on the state's fair market value, not necessarily the cash price. If the cash sale price is below the state's calculated value, TAVT will still be based on the higher state value. Document the actual cash amount paid.
Cash sale checklist
- Count and verify cash amount before signing bill of sale
- Issue a dated receipt acknowledging full payment
- Determine if IRS Form 8300 filing is required (>$10,000 cash)
- Sign and deliver the title and bill of sale simultaneously with payment
- Photograph the cash exchange or use a witness for high-value sales
- Record the actual cash price on the bill of sale
- Buyer pays 6.6% TAVT at county tag office (based on state fair market value)
- Get a signed receipt for the cash payment
- Transfer title within 30 days
Electric Vehicle Safety & Recall Information
Data sourced from NHTSA safety ratings and recall databases
Average Safety Rating
4.6 / 5
Avg. Price Range
$12,000–$60,000
Odometer Disclosure
Required
Safety checkpoints for electric vehicle buyers
- Check battery State of Health (SOH) — capacity degradation below 70% significantly reduces value
- Verify full charge range matches manufacturer specifications for the model year
- Test DC fast charging capability — some older EVs have degraded charge acceptance
- Check for any battery recall or warranty coverage status
- Confirm orange high-voltage cabling is intact and shielding is undamaged
- Verify regenerative braking smoothness and one-pedal-driving function
- Test pedestrian-warning sound (federally required at low speed)
- Inspect for prior collision-repair history that touched the battery pack tray
Common recall categories
Battery/High VoltageSoftware/OTA UpdatesCharging SystemBrakesElectrical
On average, each electric vehicle model has approximately 2.8 recalls. Always check your specific vehicle at NHTSA.gov/recalls before completing a sale.
Falmouth Cash sale electric vehicle generator — when to file
Georgia requires title transfer within 30 days of the sale date on the bill of sale. For cash sale transactions specifically, file at Georgia DMV – Falmouth (Visit https://dds.georgia.gov to find the nearest Falmouth office) during normal hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–5:00 PM (verify hours with local office). Miss the 30-day window and Georgia typically charges a late-transfer penalty plus accrued use tax, and the seller can remain on the title for civil liability until the buyer completes retitling. Bring the signed title, the completed Falmouth bill of sale, your government-issued ID, and payment for the $18.00 title transfer fee plus 6.6% sales tax on the purchase price.
Generator reminder. Whether you keep your generator as a generator-produced document, both buyer and seller should leave the signing with an identical executed copy. The buyer needs the original to present at Georgia DMV – Falmouth; the seller keeps a duplicate to prove the date of transfer if a future liability question arises before the title fully retitles.