Reply to "What is involved in selling a car from California to, say, Malysia?"

Mike, a wire transfer from Malaysia to the USA is quicker than one from the USA to Malaysia. Time zones have a greater effect on the speed of a wire transfer than borders do. Also, the US Treasury Dept. in New York will have a look at any USD transfer coming out of Malaysia although the amount is small, so that won't hold it up by more than a few minutes. Still, I'd be surprised if it took longer than 48 hours from the moment it's initiated. It would normally be completed within 24 hours. Also, once it lands in your account, it's cash, so there's no reason for your bank to put a hold on it.

When a wire transfer takes more than 48 hours to complete, it's because the bank didn't send it until the next day and/or, the receiving bank didn't put it into your account for some period of time after they received it.