How Does Trading in a Car Work?

Posted: Saturday, January 4th, 2020

Using the vehicle you currently drive to help pay for a new vehicle is a great way to reduce your auto payments, avoid the hassle of selling your car, and help you afford an even better vehicle than you could with a cash down payment alone. Keep reading for answers to your questions on how trading in a car works and what you can do to get more when the time is right to upgrade your St. Louis commute.

What is a Trade-In?

The money you receive for your trade will likely be less than you could get if you sold the vehicle yourself in Herculaneum, but because you’ll avoid dealing with buyers and have an instant decision, you may find it preferable to going it alone.

How Does Trading in a Vehicle Work?

Trading in a car boils down to three main steps:

• Get Your Vehicle’s Trade-In Value: First, you’ll want to do a bit of homework. Use a tool like the Kelley Blue Book® Value or Edmunds True Market Value® to get your car’s estimated estimated value, based on traits like model, trim, and year.
• Get an Appraisal: Next, take your car to a dealer to get an appraisal. Keep in mind that the offer you’re given may differ from the value you acquired during your research. There’s also a chance that the dealer will tell you they can’t resell the car, which is why it’s important to keep up with routine maintenace and make your car look presentable.
• Neogtiate or Accept a Trade-In Offer: When the dealer gives you their offer, you have a choice; you can accept their offer and take the money, negotiate for a higher value, or walk away. If you’ve done your research and have thorough service records, and you feel you’re not being offered a high enough price, you’re in a good position to negotiate.

How Does Trading in a Vehicle Work with a Loan?

One question we’re often asked is, “How does trading in a financed car work?” If your car is worth more than what you owe on your auto loan, it’s smooth sailing. However, if you have negative equity (i.e. your car is worth less than what you owe), you may run into some difficulties.

Some dealers won’t accept cars if their owner still owes money. Those that do generally give you the option of a “rollover car loan.” This is when the dealer pays off the balance on your auto loan, then rolls over what they’ve paid off for you into a new car loan. So, either way, you’re expected to repay the balance on your old loan.

How Does Trading in a Leased Vehicle Work?

You can’t trade-in a leased vehicle for money, because it’s not yours to sell. However, if you’d like to trade-in your leased vehicle and end your lease contract early — you can. This can be a costly manuever, though. Chances are you’ll owe more than the car’s worth after short-term depreciation. Additionally, you’ll likely be charged an early termination fee. If you truly wish to end your lease early, it’s probably best to hang in there until you’ve got two or three months left.

How to Get the Most for Your Trade-In

Now that we’ve answered, “How does trading in a car work,” let’s discuss ways you can get more from the dealership at trade-in time:

• Clean it Up: The better your vehicle looks, both inside and out, the higher the offer you’ll receive.
• Make Repairs: If your vehicle has any issues, such as leaky hoses, loose belts, or worn pads, take care of those before you go to the dealership.
• Have Records Ready: If you’ve kept good maintenance records, and used high-quality OEM parts, show them to the dealership — it could mean a few hundred extra when you trade up.

By presenting a vehicle the dealership can turn around quickly, you’ll save them work, making it easier to demand more for your trade.

Get Financed at Green Light Auto Credit!

Now that you know the answer to the question, “How does trading in a car work,” we can help you move forward. We can also answer any related questions you may have, such as, “Can I trade-in a car I still owe on or a car with negative equity?” The best way to pay less on your next vehicle loan is to have your financing locked in before negotiations begin. Use the convenient finance application at Green Light Auto Credit and get the financing you need before you take that test drive near Florissant.

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