How to get the most value for your trade at a dealership

Getting the most for your trade is easy at Palmen

How do I get the most trade in value for my car?

If you’ve decided that it’s time to trade in your vehicle for a new or used model that’s more in line with what you’d like to be driving, there can be a lot of questions about how to make sure you’re getting a good deal. Here at Palmen Dodge Chrysler Jeep of Racine, we do our best to offer a fast, fair appraisal process that gets you behind the wheel of your new vehicle, but there are definitely some steps you can take ahead of time to make sure you’re getting maximum value. If you’re wondering, “How do I get the most trade in value for my car?,” these quick tips from our dealership should be helpful! 

The art of the trade in process1. The first thing you’ll want to do is collect your records. We hope you’ve been keeping  detailed record of all service center maintenance and repairs, complete with receipts for work done, or your own bookkeeping records if you do most of your own work. This shows any potential buyer, including a dealership, that your vehicle has been well-maintained.

2. Next, you’ll want to do some digging to get a clear idea of what your vehicle is probably worth. You’ll want to look not only at the big name sits like Edmunds and Kelley Blue Book, but also take a look in your local area to see what private sellers and dealerships are selling a vehicle like yours for. An understanding of your car’s likely value in the current market will keep you from having unrealistically high (or low) expectations of what you’ll be able to get for it.

3. Clean it up! Alright, a crumb-free interior and shiny paint might not be a huge boost to the value of your trade, but when it comes to looking like a nice, attractive-t0-buyers used model, every bit helps in making your car look as appealing and well taken care of as possible.

4. Finally, if your vehicle is still under warranty or if there are relatively inexpensive repairs to be made, get that done before having it appraised.

Now you’re ready to trade! Come check out our huge selection of new and used models here at Palmen Dodge Chrysler Jeep of Racine!