The time has come to buy yourself a new car and you want to trade in your current vehicle. Your trade-in is very important because it is often the down payment toward your next car. It can really make a big difference in what kind of vehicle you will be able to purchase. The goal here is to get the most value out of it, and there are a few ways to prepare your current ride.
Before you head down to the dealership, there are a few things you would want to remember. A trade-in is more than handing the keys over to the dealership. There are a few things you will want to know and more importantly need to know.
To help you get the most out of your trade-in, here are a few things you?ll want to know about trade-ins.
#1: Get Your Vehicle Trade-In Ready
If you’re one who takes good car of their car, then this first step should be rather easy. A clean and working car will always get you a better trade in value. Take some time to make sure everything is in the best possible condition.
- You’ll want your car in tip top shape and really give your car a deep deep clean. Focus on both the exterior and interior focusing on any dirty or stained areas. Clean the trunk, dash, console, windows, tires and freshen up the inside by removing any odors.
- Remove personal items ? Stickers, your junk, CDs, things hanging from the mirror and anything that didn?t come with the car should go.
- Fix what you can ? If there are any dents, get them fixed. Address any tire issues, burnt out bulbs and any minor mechanical issues.
#2: Do Some Research
Do your own research before going to the dealership. Find out the trade in value of your car. Don?t rely on the dealerships alone to find the value of your vehicle. Resources like?Kelley Blue Book and Edmunds is very helpful in keeping you informedfor determining the value . Having the information with you gives you some negotiating power. Be realistic about the condition of the car. Excellent condition value is not a reasonable expectation for any trade-in.
#3: Bring All The Necessary Documents
To speed up the process of getting your new car, this Georgia based dealer recommends you have all the information you will need to provide. You will need Title or car loan information, including lender and account number for a car loan. Current/valid vehicle registration. Your driver?s license. And the keys and remotes to the vehicle.
#4: Be Prepared to do some Paperwork
Like with all big purchases, there will be paperwork and contract to read over and sign. The paper will include things like the interest rate, your monthly payment, trade-in value, loan amount and length of the loan. Be sure to look at the fine print?this is so important. It?s there for a reason.
A trade-in can be a big help to get you into a more reliable, or nicer, vehicle. When you take care a few things prior to your arrival to the dealership, the process is often easier and faster. And before long, you’ll be riding in your new ride.
