Get the Best Trade in Value

If you are looking to purchase a new or used vehicle, chances are you have another car that you plan to trade in or sell to help pay for the cost of the new one. It goes without saying that you will want to know what it is worth in advance of your purchase and that you will want that value to be as high as possible. You want to know in advance because if you wait until the day of your next purchase, you will have only one dealers word on how much your car is worth. If you look into the value of your vehicle as a trade in, at dealerships and the value if you sell it privately, you might decide you want to sell it privately.

The simplest way to get a ball park figure on what your car is worth is to first examine it and decide what imperfections there are, then refer to the Kelly Blue Book, which you can find online. Here you can enter the make, model, year and condition of your vehicle and you will be given values for your car, both retail (trade in) and private sale values. For private sale value you may also want to check popular private auto sale sights and print ads to see what other people who own similar vehicles are selling them for.

When it comes to trade in value, the most accurate way to find out what your car is worth is to take it to a few auto dealerships and ask them for an appraisal. Make sure you go to more than one. If the vehicle is not appraising at the value you expected, this is an opportunity to increase the value of your vehicle. Ask the dealership why and if there is anything they think can be done to improve the value.

Maximizing Value

Keeping up with maintenance and taking care of your vehicle over the time you have owned it is always the best way to retain value, but there are some other things you can do before you trade in or sell your car that will help ensure you get the best value for it. These include:

• Make sure you have completed any minor maintenance or repairs that the vehicle needs, like tire rotations, alignments, belt replacements and other small repairs. If you are unaware of any of minor mechanical problems, ask trusted mechanics to examine the vehicle and tell you any current or impending problems.
• Get the vehicle cleaned inside and out and try to eliminate any stains. If necessary, consider a fresh coat of paint, if there are too man cosmetic blemishes on the exterior.
• When possible, replace any missing cosmetic parts, such as hub caps or hood ornaments.
• Locate and organize all maintenance records for the vehicle and have them on hand for dealership appraisers or prospective buyers.

Following these simple steps should allow you to get the most out your current vehicle, whether you are trading it in or have decided to sell it privately.