Do you have your eye on a new car, and now you need to trade in your existing vehicle and finalize the purchase? Before heading to the dealership, it’s important to get your car ready to trade. Then you can maximize the value, allowing you to put more money toward the new purchase. And while it sounds like hard work, you can get your car trade-in ready with these six simple tips.
1. Get Your Paperwork Together
The dealership will ask to see any paperwork on your car, including the title. However, don’t stop there. If you have service records, bring them along with you. Well-maintained cars have more value, so this is very important. Of course, don’t avoid trading your car in just because you don’t have the records. You can still get a fair price for your vehicle.
2. Grab Extra Items
Do you have extras or accessories that go with the car, such as a spare set of keys or an SD card to update your navigation system? You’ll want to gather everything and bring it with you, too. This might sound small, but the dealership might lower the offer if you don’t have all the extras.
3. Clean Your Car Thoroughly
First impressions are important, even when trading in a vehicle. The team will inspect the interior and exterior and might lower the offer if it’s dirty and full of junk.
First, wash and wax the exterior before tackling the interior. Then take out your personal items before thoroughly cleaning and vacuuming the inside of the car. You can handle this yourself or take it somewhere to get detailed.
4. Take Care of Minor Issues
Does your car have some minor, inexpensive problems such as low fluids and blown fuses? Handle those problems before taking the car to the dealership. Now, you don’t need to go to the trouble of repairing significant problems. For instance, if you have a blown head gasket, you might not want to pay over $1,000 to fix it. The damage will reduce the value, but probably not as much as the repair cost. Plus, the major repair might be why you’re upgrading your wheels, so it doesn’t make sense to put these tasks on your plate.
5. Inspect Your Vehicle
The team at the dealership will inspect your car when you bring it in, but you should also conduct an inspection. First, walk around the vehicle, looking for imperfections, and then take it for a drive. Make a list of any issues you find, understanding that they will impact the car’s trade-in value.
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6. Get the Estimated Value
Finally, you’ll be ready to use an online appraisal tool to check your car’s value. Be sure to remember the results from your inspection when choosing the car’s condition. Then you’ll get a good idea of what to expect when taking your car to the dealership.
You don’t have to scour the internet to appraise your car. Instead, Thomasville Toyota in Thomasville, Georgia, makes it easy to get a cash offer for your vehicle. You can use our site to get an instant cash offer for your vehicle. Then your offer will be valid for seven days. Once you obtain your offer, visit our dealership in person to discuss your trade.
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