In the USA, it's uncommon but not unheard of--people who don't have bank accounts, don't like paying taxes, don't want to pay their bank a fee for a cashier's c

In the USA, it's uncommon but not unheard of--people who don't have bank accounts, don't like paying taxes, don't want to pay their bank a fee for a cashier's check or wire, etc. It probably still gets reported to the government, though. https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/report-of-cash-payments-over-10000-received-in-a-trade-or-business-motor-vehicle-dealership-qas https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employe... Pro tip: In a private transaction, do as much of the work as possible in the bank lobby. I sold a car, and the cash never left the bank--both I and the buyer had accounts at the same bank, so he withdrew and I deposited. The cash was just the cheapest way for us to do the transfer given the bank's fee structure. The physical handoff also synchronizes well with the physical handoff of the title/keys.