Don’t let the dealership decide the value of your trade-in.

How do you raise the value of your trade-in? It’s a question that we all ask at some point. And it can be frustrating to determine just what can boost the value versus what might be a waste of your time. If you’ve got a trade-in, here’s what to do to raise its value.

Know The Value

First, before anything else, you should know just what your trade-in is worth in the first place. It’s simple to look up the exact value of your car online, which should give you a rough idea not just of the general value of your trade-in, but also what dealerships will offer for it and the ceiling for value. Even a used car in good condition is only worth so much, so you should know what it’s worth.

Shop Around

It’s also worth making a few calls and seeing who wants what. When trading in your car, you should shop around to see what dealerships will offer you. Keep in mind that even a trade-in in the best shape might be worth less to a dealership that already has five of them on the lot, or has found in the past that they have trouble selling your kind of car. Or, they might simply not have the budget space to accommodate you; dealerships need to sell at a profit, after all. Each dealership also handles trade-ins differently, so you should track that and see what’s a good deal for you.

Before going to trade in, the internet can tell you what your car is worth.

Clean It Up

Before you hit any dealership, clean your car, from the floor mats to the upholstery on the ceiling. Scrub the dashboards and fixtures and take your car through the car wash. Similarly, if there are minor repairs that need to be done, or if there’s a recall you’ve been putting off dealing with, now is certainly the time. Spending a few dollars on minor repairs can boost the trade-in value by thousands of dollars. Also, make sure your paperwork is in order; being able to prove your repair history will be helpful.

Negotiate Separately

Contrary to what some would prefer you to believe, you don’t have to, nor should you, negotiate your trade-in value and your new car separately. It’s easier to do than you might think, by simply calling around separately or putting up an online ad. You’ll get contacted by dealerships and other interested parties directly through the ad, which will give you an idea of how much people are willing to pay.

When negotiating your new car, make it clear the trade-in price has already been agreed on and isn’t on the table. Until you’ve got the paperwork signed, you should keep the keys, your driver’s license, and your registration. Have copies of your paperwork handy so the sales team can run the necessary numbers, but don’t hand over the originals. That won’t be necessary until they take the car off your hands. Be sure to ask, too, about tax offsets and other offers that might make sense to apply towards your new purchase.

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