Buying a vehicle from a distance

I found a vehicle I would like to buy that is nearly on the other side of the country. One of our well respected members has checked it out and gave me a thumbs up on it. The challenge is paying for it because it is owned by an individual.

Have you bought or sold a vehicle like this before? What is a secure way to do this? Unfortunately the bank and AAA are closed today so I cannot ask them.

Thanks for your input.