It’s the car that you picked up your now wife in, on your very
first date. The car you drove halfway across the country for a music
festival. But alas, nostalgia is not going to get you from A to B. 
Trading in will afford you not only a new car, but peace of
mind. Get the best out of your bomb, and drive away in something you actually
want with these five tips. 

1.    Know your worth

This is no time for smoke and
mirrors. Having a realistic idea of where your car sits in the market, and how much you
can expect for it will make the whole process easier on you and the dealer
offering the trade. It’s true that going from dealer to dealer in your own time
can be exhausting, so why not find out what you are working with by using Carsand Co who has fortunately done all the heavy lifting for you.
By entering all your car details,
the exact trade in price will be calculated and they even facilitate a new car
delivery if you find what you are after.
Not
only will this type of service provider save you time but they could end up
saving you a bundle against what you thought your vehicle may or may not have
been worth.

2.   Logbook

We all like to think we’re on top
of our life admin, but some things get away from us.
Luckily, mechanics and service staff are diligent with this requirement so logbook maintenance is usually done for you. We don’t always consider a log book an important
part of our vehicle maintenance, but that one missing stamp could be the reason
your trade in doesn’t reap the rewards you are due. A log book is effectively
your evidence that the vehicle has been serviced and maintained to a high
standard.
Missing a service is something
that we have all done, but missing the record in your logbook is not a habit
you want to get into. Make sure that all services, major repairs or additional
add on’s are tracked in your vehicle. This record keeping will help make sure
you get the best trade in value possible and it will also put the car’s next
potential owner at ease.

3.    Multiple markets

I’m sure that Jimmy from ‘Jim’s
Reliable Used Cars’ seems like a trustworthy guy after the valuation you just
received. However, ask yourself this question; if you were renovating your
bathroom would you go with the first quote you received? Or would you seek as
many quotes as possible to ensure you are receiving the best price?
Trading in your vehicle is no
different. 
The first valuation could be the best, but you will never know unless you ask
the question. Seek as many varying opinions and valuations as you can. Go to
your nearest genuine car dealer to have them assess the trade in value, then
visit the local second hand car dealers to do the same.
The more valuations you have, the
greater your bargaining power when it comes to getting the
most out of your trade in. Even if you find another vehicle you want from a
particular dealer, knowing the trade in value someone else is willing to offer
could increase your negotiation value even further. 

4.    Research your next car

Few things in life are as exciting as a new car. There is something truly special about driving in your driveway for the first
time, beeping the horn in anticipation to show off the new beauty to the
family. By researching and knowing what type of car you are looking for next,
you can save yourself a lot of time when looking for a dealer to trade in your
old car. Depending on how particular your preferences are on your next car you
may not have a vast choice of dealers to trade in with, Cars and Co have an
enormous inventory and give the most accurate picture.

Additionally, by knowing what you want next you can
realistically budget based on the value of your trade in and the cost of the
new car. Or if you are particularly savvy you could try to squeeze those few
extra dollars out of your trade in to bring the cost of your next car down even
further.

5. Repairs are important

You may think fixing those dents, scratches or other fault with
your car might be counterproductive before trading in. However the cost of
repairing those issues before trading in could be much less than a dealer
‘estimates’ leaving them to take that off the value of your trade in. What the
dealer considers a fair price for the repairs and what the actual cost is can
vary dramatically. 

Yes, it can be a hassle to arrange repairs and visit the panel
beater or mechanic before trading in your vehicle. However, in the long run you
will thank yourself that you didn’t give the dealer a reason to lower the trade
in value of your vehicle to a point where you aren’t actually saving anything at
all. Take care of those pesky repairs that have been on your to do list before
visiting the dealers for a valuation. 

Trading in your car can be a tricky process if you don’t know
what you are doing, what to ask or who to speak to. The trade in value of your
vehicle is not an easy figure to calculate either. But following these tips
should help you feel more confident in the battleground that is car
dealerships. Trading in your vehicle is a great way to remove the hassle of
selling, but knowing your value is the true key to getting the best trade in
possible.
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