How to Trade in a Car
Are you interested in purchasing a new vehicle but aren’t sure what to do with your old one? One good option is to trade in your car to a dealership when you’re buying your new one. It’s an easy process that saves you time.
Rountree Ford has put together this page to help drivers from Shreveport, Bossier City, and Stonewall, LA, understand how to trade in their vehicle while shopping for a new one. Read on to learn more.
Get an Estimate of Your Car’s Worth
One of the first things you can do before you go to the dealership to purchase your new car is to figure out your current car’s worth. This is fairly easy to do, and it doesn’t hurt to get multiple estimates so you have a range of what you can expect the offer on your car to be. You can look online at websites, like Kelley Blue Book or Edmunds, to do that.
Our dealership also has a tool called What’s My Car Worth? that can give you an estimate of your car’s value in less than 10 minutes. You can even bring this estimate by and it acts as a firm offer on your vehicle.
Prepare Your Vehicle
Before you bring your car in, give it a good wash and vacuum the interior. Making your vehicle look nice means you’re likely to receive a higher offer. A nicer-looking car is one that is most likely better cared for and in better condition.
Now is also a good time to do any minor repairs you need to do, including fixing scratches or dents. If there are any open recalls on your vehicle, taking care of those can also boost your car’s value.
Bring any paperwork you have on maintenance or repairs to show you’ve taken good care of your car too.
Find Your Next Vehicle and Negotiate Prices
The next step is to come by the dealership. You’ll be looking for your next vehicle. Once you’ve found that, taken a test drive, and began the financial process, it’s time to negotiate prices. This includes the price of your new vehicle and trade-in car.
You can negotiate the selling price of your trade-in. Use the research you’ve done and your maintenance records to get to a number you feel comfortable trading in your vehicle for. The money you get for this car can be put towards the down payment of your new vehicle.
Once all the negotiation is done, you’ll go over the deal sheet. This should include all the information you’ve agreed to. If it’s correct, sign it and drive away in your new vehicle.
Trade in Your Vehicle with Us
Those are the basics of how to trade in a vehicle. You’ll drive away in your next car and won’t have to worry about the old vehicle you drove there. Rountree Ford has plenty of experienced team members to help you through the process, from finding your next car to trading in your old one.
We look forward to working with drivers from Shreveport, Bossier City, and Stonewall, Louisiana. Contact us to get the process started today.
