Fairway Auto Center

Aug 28, 2020

Many car buyers rely on selling or trading-in their vehicles to cover the down payment of a new one. When you’re relying on selling your previous vehicle to get a new one, you want to get as much as possible when you trade it in. These tips will help you maximize your trade-in value.cleaning a vehicle out before trading it in

Thorough Cleaning

Perhaps one of the easiest things you can do to maximize your vehicle’s value is to give it a thorough cleaning before bringing it into the dealership. Remove all interior debris, vacuum under the seats, wipe down surfaces with a leather cleaner, and wash the windows and electronic controls. Some drivers might even decide to pay for a professional detail to ensure that the vehicle looks, and smells, brand-new.

Gather All of Your Maintenance Records

When you can, provide your vehicle’s maintenance records to show that you took good care of it. This makes it easier for the dealership to re-sell the vehicle. Gather maintenance records for oil changes, tire rotations, maintenance appointments, and even recalls that you had repaired.

It can also be helpful to have any maintenance or repairs needed taken care of before trading-in your vehicle. Lookup any recalls have them fixed before obtaining a value. These are things that the dealership, or the next buyer, won’t have to do. Since recalls are often covered by the vehicle’s manufacturer, it can be a cost-effective task that can increase your vehicle’s trade-in value.

Make Minor Repairs

While you likely won’t want to pay for any major repairs right before trading-in your vehicle, it might be worth it to make minor ones. Minor repairs, like fixing dents in the exterior or getting new brake pads, can increase the overall value of your vehicle. It makes for fewer things that the dealership will have to do before selling your vehicle, so in return, theyll offer a higher price.

Know Your Vehicle’s Value

It’s also a good idea to know what your vehicle is currently selling for in your local market. Kelley Blue Book a good place to get a base quote. Keep in mind that many factors, including the total miles and condition of the vehicle, will affect the price. Your location can also make a difference in value. The popularity of certain vehicles tends to vary based on things like income levels and average weather.

When you have an idea of what your vehicle is selling for, you can determine whether the dealership is offering you a good price. It can also be a good idea to determine what you owe on the vehicle ahead of time and evaluate what the lowest offer is that you can accept. This gives you room to negotiate and determine whether it makes sense to sell or not.

When you want to sell your vehicle, you want to be sure that you get as much as possible for it. By giving your vehicle a deep cleaning, collecting all of your maintenance records, making minor repairs, and knowing the value of your vehicle ahead of time, you can maximize its value and get even more toward the purchase of your vehicle. Come by Fairway Auto Center today to get your competitive trade-in value.