What You Should Know About Trading Your Car In

Are you in the market for a new car or truck? If so, do you know what you’re going to do with your current vehicle yet? Selling privately or simply keeping it are options, but many people choose the ease and simplicity of trading it in at the dealership.

However, a trade-in isn’t something you should walk into blindly. If you don’t arrive at the dealership prepared, you may end up getting less for your car than you could.

Let’s look at what you need to know about the trade-in process to get a good deal for your current car or truck. Then you can enter the dealership fully aware of what can happen and how to negotiate the price properly.

Things to Know About the Trade-In Process

Find Out Your Car’s Current Value

If you want to get a fair price for your car from a dealership, you need to know what your car is worth. Using online pricing guides like Edmunds and Kelley Blue Book is the most straightforward way to do this.

They have tons of general market information on their websites, as well as appraisal tools like this one. These tools will give you an average price range for both private market and trade-in value, and having both figures is important.

Be sure to use reputable sites like the two listed above, though, because generators on the internet can tell you anything you want if you’re not careful about the tools you use.

Get Quotes from Dealerships

Once you have your independent estimate, it’s time to reach out to dealerships to find out what they’re willing to offer you for your trade-in. Having the vehicle appraised in-person is best, but many dealerships—including our Buick GMC dealership near Pace, FL—have an online tool that allows you to value your trade quickly on their website.

You can also look at the dealership where you originally bought your vehicle to see if they’ll accept it as a trade-in. You might be able to get a good price at that dealership because you already have a relationship with them.

It’s a good idea to get a quote from a couple of different dealerships before you go into the one you actually want to buy a car at, because these quotes can give you more negotiating power.

Clean Your Car

The aesthetic appearance of a vehicle is extremely important when it comes to determining its overall trade-in value. For instance, Kelley Blue Book categorizes cars as “fair,” “good,” “very good,” and “excellent,” and each of these categories represents a significant jump in value. According to KBB, only about 2% of cars fall under the “excellent” category.

Any trash should be cleared out, and dirty carpets, excessive stains in the upholstery, and dusty interior surfaces should all be cleaned. This step is quick and should only take you an hour or two, depending on the condition of the car. It may seem like a hassle, but it can potentially get you hundreds of dollars more because the dealership won’t have to invest as much time cleaning it themselves.

Likewise, the exterior should be washed as well, including the wheels and undercarriage. Again, this shouldn’t take long, and it’ll be well worth it when the time comes to maximize the value of your car.

Service Records Can Help

Another way to increase your negotiating power is to prove that your trade-in has been well taken care of. The best way to prove this is to produce service records. This will show the dealership that the car is in excellent mechanical shape. This is why keeping receipts for everything is all-important.

Additionally, you may receive a little extra negotiating power if you had your car serviced at a certified service center.

Schedule an Appointment with Your Chosen Dealer

Once you have your estimate, your offer, and your cleaned and detailed car, you’re ready to schedule your appointment with your dealer. After you do that, show up to the meeting ready to negotiate the price of your trade-in. At this point, having a clean car, a couple of trade offers from other dealerships, and a stack of service receipts can help you negotiate the price upward. It’s also a good idea to ask if you can be in the room when the appraiser assesses your vehicle so you can make sure everything is above-board.

Once you get through this step, you should be able to trade in your vehicle and get the maximum value toward your new car. In fact, if your trade-in is worth enough, you may not need to put up any extra money for a down payment.

Trade In Your Car or Truck in Pensacola, FL

If you’re ready to trade in your car so you can get a new Buick or GMC, connect with us today. We’ll take your vehicle no matter whether you’re in Milton, FL; Cantonment, FL; or Mobile, AL. We pride ourselves on offering fair deals for trade-ins, and we’ll take your car even if you don’t buy one of our new or used vehicles.

Contact us online or give us a call at (850) 344-1523 to learn more.