If you plan to trade in your existing vehicle to purchase a new car, SUV or truck, there are a few things you can do to increase the value of your trade-in. The more you can get for your trade, the better your deal on your next car! Here are some tips from a Pinellas Park area Acura dealer for getting more for your trade-in:
Thoroughly Clean Inside and Out
Before you bring your vehicle into the dealership to get a trade-in value, spend some time cleaning it thoroughly inside and out. You can go through the car wash to make cleaning the outside easy and quick. Make sure you remove all belongings and trash from the interior of your car, vacuum every surface and nook and cranny, and then wipe down every inch of your dashboard, console, and doors. The cleaner you can get your car, the better your trade-in value will be. Appearances matter!
Research Car Value
Look online for services that will estimate the value of your car. You can check for the Kelley Blue Book value, which is a standard measurement of car value and should give you a good idea what the car is actually worth. You can also jump online to Craigslist or another classified website to see what similar cars are selling for.
When you bring your car to the dealership, understand that the dealer will not give you the full value of the car. This is because they need to resell the car at a profit. If you want, you can always try to sell the car yourself instead of trading it in, but it can take considerable time to find a buyer where as a trade-in is instant. The value of your traded in vehicle is immediately applied toward the purchase of your next car.
Knowing the approximate value of your car before you trade it in helps you know whether you’re getting a fair price for your car. If they offer you something ridiculously low, you can just say you know the Blue Book Value is so much; and that they shouldn’t be that far below it for the trade-in value.
Consider Getting a Trade-in Value from Multiple Dealerships
You may want to see what a few dealerships can offer you for your trade in. It is possible one dealership may be in need of the car you have and are trading in, and can offer you more for it than another dealership.
Connect with us
