What You Should Do When Trading in Your Car

Whilst you can get many years use out of a car, eventually there will come a time when you decide enough is enough and you want to get a new one. So here are some simple things you can do when trading in your old car to ensure you get the most amount of money for it.

Whilst you can get many years use out of a car, eventually there will come a time when you decide enough is enough and you want to get a new one. So here are some simple things you can do when trading in your old car to ensure you get the most amount of money for it.

Clean It

If you are going to a dealership they will expect your car to be clean, both inside and out. The basic things you can do include giving it an overall clean and polish on the outside, and vacuuming the seats and floor inside. Also make sure to clean the windows, and avoid getting any finger marks on them.

Find Its True Value

If you decide to trade in your old car for a new one, make sure you know exactly how much it is worth, otherwise you could be in for a nasty shock when you go to the dealership.

Since the value of your car is likely to be a lot less than when you first bought it, knowing its true value can help you get the most return from it and prevent the dealership from trying to offer you a far lower price when you try to part exchange it.

Knowing the true value of you car will also allow you to negotiate the price down, but to help you further, know the value of the car you want to buy by finding out what the dealership paid for it. This will put you in a much better position later on when you start to talk about lowering the cost of the car you want to buy.

Find A Private Buyer

Whilst going into a dealership to exchange your vehicle is certainly convenient, be aware that you are likely to get far less return on your investment than you would if you sold your vehicle privately.

There are many online auction sites that will allow you to do this, and even though they will charge a fee for their service, it can still work out a much better deal for you. An alternative is to advertise in your local paper, as very often these will allow you to advertise for free, or for a minimal fee. The disadvantage is that unlike the online auction sites, your sale will be limited to people in your local area, which can mean it could take quite a long time to sell.

Whatever you choose to do when part exchanging your vehicle, don't just run to the local dealerships and accept whatever price they give you. If you do your research properly first, then you could save yourself quite a lot of money in the process.

To find out more about trading in your car, please see my website: Car Lifespan & Trading In Your Car