How much cash can you carry or have in your car without the cops confiscating it?

Question

The reason I ask is that a man was stopped in my state with thousands in his car and the news story said specifically that no sign of drugs were found, but the county was already dividing up the money. I guess something was left out of the story.

I hear 10K, too, but don't know if that's just an urban legend.

Answer 1

I don't know what country you are in, but the United States is a free country.  You can carry as much cash as you want to, unless you have stolen it.  Why would you want to carry a large amount of cash?  The police won't take it, but thieves will.  You should carry traveler's checks.

Answer 2

Legally, you can't carry more than $10000 in cash.

Answer 3

There is no set amount.

If you have a high paying job and like throwing money around town, you could easily travel around with $8000 and if you are able to convince the officers it was legally gained, you should have no problems.

However, if you have no job, drugs in the car, a history of slinging dope, the money is in a ball of $20s, ect...Officers may confiscate as little as a couple hundred.

As I alluded too, there are many factors that go into suspicion the money was gained legally:

Lack of means to make the money

Lack of reasonable explanation about where the money came from

Hidden money

Drugs or paraphernalia present

Known drug dealer

Drug dog alert

No one in the car claims the money (happens quite often with drug money)

In the end though, the officers are not the bottom line. If you have any money seized, there will be a seizure hearing where the courts will determine if the money was gained illegally or not.

In my experience, most criminals don't bother to show up to those.

Answer 4

I would think that as long as you can still see out the windows you're fine.

Answer 5

$10,000.00 is the legal limit. Anything over this comes under very strict money laundering laws where you have to prove where the money came from.

Answer 6

As much as you want I would think.  Having money is not a crime, just makes you foolish for risking to loose that much.

Answer 7

The only reason cops would confiscate any money is if the money is drug money.

Their is no limit

Answer 8

Why would the police confiscate your cash?

Answer 9

They can only confiscate it if they suspect it is stolen or drug money.

Answer 10

You can carry any amount of cash in a car,

that's NOT illegal.

Answer 11

Illegal to cross most borders with 10,000.  In your vehicle the amount is not the issue,  "authorities can confiscate your money without ever charging you with a crime, as long as they can prove it's tied to illegal activity."

Keeping the money in a hidden compartment leads to most seizures.  The amount that draws a red flag is totals over 2,000.