Buying Car in the UK from the US - How Best to Pay?

Hi all,

Just a quick one - we are moving over in a couple weeks but planning to buy a used car to have when we arrive.  We are planning to buy it in cash - and this may be a dumb question - but how is it best and most efficient to pay?  I ask because my husband was telling me to send a blank check to his brother in law (who is going to check out the car/test drive/etc) - and sending a blank check scares me a bit.  Do people even pay by check anymore?

I've bought two cars and paid by direct debit from my UK account (one from a dealer and one a private sale).

Are you sure you wouldn't rather hire a car for a week or so and see / drive the car yourself?  How will you insure it without being here? 

I don't even have a check book and have never needed one here.  Direct debit is king!

@KFdancer - thanks for your reply!  I'm glad to hear that no one uses checks as they drive me nuts.

The car was one we had experience driving from when we lived there before & when we have visited since (and hired a car). 

Good point about insuring, I have no clue - I will ask DH how that works....