How to Get the Most Out of a Vehicle Trade-in

Your Vehicle’s Trade-in Value

The trade-in value is what you receive from a dealership for your old vehicle to put toward a new one.

Factors that go into how a dealership determines the specific trade-in value include overall condition, age, mileage, and current popularity.

Keep the Car Maintained

One of the most important things you can do to get the most out of a vehicle trade-in is to make sure it receives the care it deserves the entire time it’s in your possession. Maintenance tasks that need to be performed on a regular basis include oil changes, tire rotations, wheel alignments, engine tune-ups, and brake inspections.

Exactly when a vehicle’s oil needs to be changed depends on the type of oil that’s being used inside its engine. For an older mode of transportation, it should be switched out about every 5,000 to 7,500 miles or so. Newer cars that run on synthetic oil can travel a lot farther before an oil change will be necessary. The range, in this case, is anywhere between 7,500 and 15,000 miles.

Be sure to consult your car’s owner’s manual to find out the recommended intervals for how often each of the above procedures needs to be completed.

Address Repair Issues Right Away

If any repair needs arise, it’s always a good idea to make sure these are taken care of immediately. This is the case whether they’re minor or severe.

In fact, seemingly insignificant issues such as scratches and dents have been known to considerably affect a vehicle’s resale value.

Features That Help You Get the Most Out of a Vehicle Trade-in

Something else to keep in mind is what your car has to offer when it comes to the equipment it has.

Items that can boost a car’s value include heated seats, sunroofs, all-wheel drive, automatic climate control, and factory audio systems that have been upgraded. Safety features that can be useful in this regard include blind spot monitoring and lane keep assist. In general, higher trim levels can make a difference, as well.