Are You Looking To Trade In Your Old Car And Buy A New One? Ways To Maximize The Trade-In Value Of Your Car
Trading in your car to a dealership when you are buying a new one has many benefits. You don't have to sit around and wait for the right buyer, you don't have to deal with scammers, and you can use the money you are given for your old car as a down payment on your new car. If you plan on trading in your existing vehicle and buying a new one, you may be curious as to whether there is anything you can do to boost the trade-in value of your car and maximize the amount you get. Here are a few tips to help you get the best price for your old car when trading it in at an auto dealership.
Learn the Value of Your Car
Before you attempt to sell your car to an auto dealership, take the time to learn what the value of your car is. While looking at the Blue Book Value of your car is a great resource, it doesn't always tell the whole story as to what your car is worth. Take the time to look at dealers who sell used cars, as well as private parties, to see what amount they are attempting to sell your make and model of car for. When possible, look at cars that are in the same condition and have close to the same amount of mileage on them. Knowing how much your car is worth gives you a place to negotiate with when it comes to an auto dealership. Keep in mind that most dealers want to make between two to four percent on the sale of your car. So take the value of the car, take away the dealer's two to four percent and then subtract from that amount any repairs that will be needed to sell the car. That gives you an estimate of what you should be getting for your car.
Have Minor Repairs Made
If you are thinking about trading in your automobile, you may put off changing the brake pads, getting the check engine light shut off or replacing a cracked windshield. However, a dealer will meticulously inspect your car for damage. They will then start to add up all of these items and determine how much it will take to repair your car and get it ready to place on their lot. The majority of the time, you will come out ahead by making these repairs yourself, instead of letting a dealer value the repairs. As such, when you are looking to maximize the amount of money you get out of a trade-in, fix those small dents, get an oil change, and replace a battery that does not hold a charge well.
Detail Your Car
The last tip for maximizing the value of your trade-in is to detail your car. Before trading in your car, you may not be concerned about bugs on the grill, dirt on the door, dust on the dashboard or a soda spill on your backseat. However, clean cars typically get offered a higher trade-in value than cars that are not clean. If your car is not detailed, a dealer has to guess whether that spill on the seat of your car or the grease on the floor will remove or whether the stain is set in. Taking the time to have your car detailed allows a dealer the opportunity to see how clean your car is and how quickly another potential buyer may snatch it up.
Trading in your car to an auto dealership is a great way to quickly get rid of your old vehicle. Detailing the car, taking care of minor repairs and learning the true value of your car will help you maximize the trade-in value of the car. For more information, contact a business such as Audi Brooklyn.
