Tips on how to trade in your car for the most money

Article 2 | Just Trade Your Current Car Trading in your car is a great way to save money. Unfortunately, some people have to accept lower offers because they don’t know the steps to go through. 5 Strategies to Get the Most Value for Your Trade-In » by Jessica Brennan Ever Keefer April 8, 2021 With a few informed steps, you may be able to fully invest your trade-in equity into a new vehicle.

This guide will walk you through the key points to consider when trading in your car to get it to a dealership.

1. Know the true value of your car

Do your research before you step foot in a dealership. Other websites to consider are Kelley Blue Book (KBB), Edmunds, or NADA Guides; these are online tools that provide you with an estimated trade-in value for your car. Again, be sure to enter the correct details for your car’s make, model, etc.

This is the safer medium and, not least, helps you assess whether this lowball offer stands out from something even worse. Remember that trade-in values ​​are below private selling prices—this shouldn’t be discriminated against.

2. Clean and detail your car

Cars are no different; we are judged in the first moments of a competition. A luxury car that is free of dents and debris and appears to be very well maintained looks more attractive than a boring one, as it sends the message: I have been carefully looked after! Invest little or no time:

• Exterior cleaning – washing and waxing

• Vacuuming carpets, wiping surfaces and the interior

• Removal of personal belongings

• The relationship between fun and cost, without a doubt; removing scratches or small dents

They essentially convey value and the fact that you care, so a cleaner car may command a higher offer.

3. Take care of minor repairs

You don’t have to spend thousands on repairing your car before trading it in, but fixing small, inexpensive problems can definitely help. Consider:

• Replacing burnt-out lights

• Refilling fluids (oil, washer fluid, coolant)

• New windshield wipers or floor mats

• Fixing minor tire problems

Get a quote from a mechanic for anything larger, more difficult, or more expensive. In certain cases, it may be justified to trade in the damaged car, depending on how much the repair will cost.

4. Collect all documents

It helps if you’re organized and know what’s going on at your college, the campus, and the area in general. Take the following with you to the dealer:

• Vehicle title (or loan repayment information)

• Maintenance records

• All active warranty documents

• Spare key and operating instructions

The more thorough and better documented you were when bringing your ride in for service can also have a positive impact on the offer.

5. Get multiple trade-in offers

Never accept the first offer, and always negotiate! Shop around by visiting multiple dealerships or using online services like CarMax, Carvana, and Vroom, which allow for instant car appraisals. You could accept a written offer from one place and use it as a joke to negotiate another.

You can use multiple offers to increase the trade-in value

6. timing

The thing is, timing is more important than you think. What traders are: usually the most motivated to do business

• End of the month or end of the quarter when sales people try to reach their numbers

• Sales, dealers clear out last year’s models.

• Dealers need more trade-in inventory when additional buyers shop during tax filing season

The same applies to some cars that are outrageously valued at certain times of the year (convertibles in spring, SUVs in the north in winter).

7. Wall up the trade-in conversation

If you’re also buying a vehicle from a dealer, negotiate the price of that new car without ever mentioning your trade-in. One might give you a great deal on the first one, but make up for it with your trade-in.

Start negotiating the selling price of a new car. Once that’s done, mention your trade-in. This also ensures both parties receive a different value.

8. Be ready to walk away

Last but not least: Don’t be afraid to back out if you receive a low offer. Often, other dealers or platforms offer loans at (better) terms—by being willing to walk away, you show them that you have confidence in your car and aren’t willing to settle for anything less.

Final thoughts

Automakers will take your trade-in, but that doesn’t mean you have to waste money. A little prep work—determining value, sprucing it up, and researching rates—will add hundreds or thousands to your next sale.

Easy to aim for, right?): Make your car look and sound better at first glance. If you have a strategy, you can then be proud that you did the best you could with your new car for the trade-in.