Trade In Your Used Car
Sell Your Car
So you’ve decided that you are going to trade in your car rather than sell it yourself. The biggest advantage to doing that is that it is much simpler and less time consuming for you. But there are things to keep in mind when you trade in used cars, so you are not shocked or disappointed later on.
Just because the blue book value says one thing, doesn’t mean dealers will agree. Dealers get their used cars from trade-ins and from auctions. That is how they get their own value of what a certain used car is worth. Even though the book value may be one thing, if no one is willing to pay that it doesn’t mean anything to the dealer.
Sometimes it depends upon the day of the month you try to trade it in, sometimes it depends on the make or the color. If the dealer already has four or five automobiles that are the same make and color as yours, they will not be in a hurry to give you a lot of money for it. On the other hand, if there are none or only one on the lot the same as yours, they may be more interested. So sometimes, the trade-in price is all about timing.
Prepare your car for a trade in just like you would if you were selling it. A dealer will look at everything. First they’ll take a walk around the car, check out the paintwork and if there are any dings or marks. They will check under the hood, checking fluids and see if anything stands out. The inside must be spotless; they will examine that also and see what kind of condition that is in as well. After they take a test drive, usually around the block, they’ll let you know what they’ll offer.
In most cases, there is no or very little wiggle room with what they offer. Some may go up once, but that is about it. They know what the car is worth because they know what people are paying for that make and model. They can’t give you ten thousand for a car that is being sold for seven or eight thousand at an auction. Their goal is not only to be able to resell it, but to make money in the process.
To make sure you get a fair price, you need to research beforehand. Check out what the dealer has to offer and what they are looking for. Look online for others who are selling the same car, see what they are going for. Take a look at auctions, visit one if necessary, to see what people are willing to pay. Researching a multitude of places will give you the best idea, before going in, on what the dealer will offer you. Read the rest of this entry »