Are you wondering what your trade-in is really worth? How about whether there is anything you can do to get more for your trade-in? It is not easy to gauge the value of a trade-in, but there are tools that can help, like the Kelly Blue Book. Before you go car hunting, find out what to expect from your trade-in, so you shop smart.
Go Online with Priority Toyota
Priority Toyota in Chesapeake, Virginia, offers an online tool that helps you figure out how much your car is worth. It starts when you give information about your trade-in. The app has easy-to-use drop menus to get you there. On the top line, choose the year of the car you wish to trade. Next, name it by model — for example, pick a Toyota if your trade-in is a Corolla.
The app asks you to verify the trim of your car, as well. Trim refers to the feature configuration of the car you purchased, such as LE for the Corolla. Finally, enter the miles on the odometer of your trade-in, then press the button labeled “Go to Step 2.”
The next step discusses the condition of your car. You select:
- Excellent — The car is in almost new condition
- Average — If the trade-in has normal wear and tear, like minor chips
- Below Average — Select this option if the interior and/or exterior have problems. For instance, if the motor knocks or it has a ripped seat
That app also asks you to identify the number of past owners for the trade-in. If you bought the car new, select “single.” If you purchased a used vehicle, the answer is “multiple owners.”
The last step lets you pinpoint some of the features that increase the value of the trade-in. After you click on the options that fit your car, just press the “Get My PureCars Trade-in Report” to find out the value.
Getting the Most Value for Your Trade-in
Edmunds offers some tips to make sure you did get the best trade-in price for your car. Start with knowing how much the car is worth before you go to the dealership. The best way to find out what your car will sell for is to pretend that you want to sell it. Drive the car to a few used car dealerships and ask what they would pay to buy it. Don’t settle for what the clerk tells you; ask the used car manager to take a look.
Your gut may tell you to wash and detail the car before taking it in for a quote, but you are better off leaving it dirty. They are going to give you a more realistic quote if they think you are a serious seller. If the car has mechanical problems, own up to them. Fixing them beforehand is a waste of money, but disclose any issues to both the new dealer that is giving you a trade-in quote and the used car dealer telling you what is it worth.
You may not get the exact trade-in value you expect, but at least you can get an idea ahead of time. This way there are no surprises when you do finally go new car shopping.
Photo by wbaiv | Licensed under cc BY-SA 2.0
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