Car Ownership

How to Get the Most Out of Your Trade-In?

September 11, 2022

•

3 Minute Read

RightRide

Negotiating at a dealership always requires some preparation and could scare some people away. But there is no need to fret, we have the right tips and information to help you get the most out of your trade-in. Before we dive into the details, it is important to know what factors influence the value of your trade-in. The year, make, model, mileage, vehicle type (sedan, SUV, truck..), market desirability (how much demand is there for your vehicle) and lastly the condition of your vehicle are the most important criteria for a dealership. Read on to learn more about how you can be successful in improving your trade-in value.

Do Your Homework

First, take the time to find out your vehicle’s value even before going into a dealership. There are many tools available online including: Carfax</> and the Canadian Black Book . Also check out used vehicle platforms such as Kijiji and Trader to get a better idea of what other people are asking for similar vehicles. Averaging all the prices from these different platforms will give you a realistic price and a reasonable benchmark once you start negotiating . Finally, make sure to check out the dealership’s inventory to see whether they have similar or the same vehicles in stock; this is because a dealership will be less willing to pay you top-dollar for a vehicle they already have in stock, especially if it has been sitting in their lot for a few months.

Image of a person doing vehicle research on laptop, while talking on the phone.

Get Your Vehicle Ready

Ensure your vehicle is presentable so as not to give the salesperson a reason to sell you short on your trade-in. Clean the vehicle from the inside out, replace the tires if they are too worn out and lastly, do any necessary bodywork and vehicle repair. However, a very important thing to keep in mind is to make sure not to spend more money on the vehicle than what you would be able to get back from the trade-in. So use your judgment to decide what repairs matter the most! Once you are at the dealership, you can also provide your service documentation to show them the work that has been done to the vehicle as additional proof.

Car owner cleaning his vehicle, making sure it's ready to be traded in.

Negotiate Your Trade-In Value

While at the dealership, make a clear distinction between your trade-in and a new car transaction. Do not allow the salesperson to package them as a bundle, if they do, you are more likely to get less for your trade-in. Also remember not to look desperate, the salesperson might use that to make the most out of the deal. Be calm and composed and show that you are shopping around and have other options available. So stop by a few dealerships to see what quotes they provide you. You can also use the offers from other dealerships during your negotiations. And that’s it! Now you have the necessary information to make sure you get the most out of your trade-in. Check out our inventory at RightRide to find your next vehicle.