The average age of registered automobiles in the United States is just under 12 years old. Whether your car is approaching that age or you’re just looking for an upgrade, you’re probably considering trading in your vehicle.
Trading in your vehicle is the process of taking your used car to a dealership and exchanging it for credit towards a newer one.
While the process of trading in a car may seem straightforward, if you’re not prepared, you may end up leaving money on the table.
To ensure that you get the most value out of your vehicle below is a how to trade in a car guide that will give you a quick rundown on everything you need to know.
1. Do Your Homework
The first step in learning how to trade in a car is to always do your homework. If you have no idea what your car is worth, chances are you’re going to get offered significantly lower than what you’re entitled to.
There are a lot of ways you can do research on what your used vehicle could appraise for.
Our favorite methods are by using sites like Kelly Blue Book and True Car.
2. Talk to Multiple Dealerships
A lot of people expect that dealerships will try and give them a bad deal when they’re selling cars but have set rates when it comes to offering trade-in credit.
That’s not the case.
Dealers are always looking for the best deal. Because of that, King Cotton Chrysler could give you a deal that’s worth thousands more than what a dealership up the street offers.
Always visit at least 3 dealerships before accepting a trade in offer.
3. Have What You Need to Surrender Your Vehicle
If you’re ready to part ways with your car, make sure you have what you need to do so on the spot if you get an offer that you like.
This is one of the most overlooked steps in the how to trade in a car process and one that costs people great deals all the time.
Find out what you need in your state to surrender your vehicle on your DMV website. Show up to the car dealerships you’re visiting with those documents in hand.
If you get an awesome offer and need to wait a couple of days before you can cash in on it because of lack of documentation, that offer may slip away.
4. Don’t Be Afraid to Negotiate
There’s always room for negotiation when it comes to trading in a car. Don’t be afraid to ask for more trade-in credit or a better deal on the car you’re trading up for.
If you don’t ask, you won’t receive.
5. Don’t Be Afraid to Walk Away
If you’re not getting a deal that you can afford, walk away.
There’s power in walking away from an offer. If you’re prepared to take your business elsewhere, you’ll enjoy substantial leverage during the negotiation process.
Wrapping Up How to Trade in a Car
There you have it! 5 Tips on how to trade in a car that can get you the most value for your used vehicle.
We hope that you’ve found our tips helpful and invite you to browse more of our content on YouFixCars.com to learn additional auto tips and tricks that could save you thousands!
