How to Get the Most out of Your Trade-in
If you’re in the market for your next vehicle, it’s only natural that you would want to maximize the value of your current ride when it comes time to trade it in. No matter if you’re shopping for a new or used model, trade-ins are a great way to offset the cost of your next vehicle. Before you bring your old car in for a trade-in evaluation, there are a few simple steps you can take to ensure that you’ll receive its maximum value. Rizza Auto Group has assembled this helpful guide which gives you useful tips and suggestions for getting the most value from your trade-in.
Basics of Trading-In Your Car
For the vast majority of people, trading in your current vehicle is the quickest, most convenient way to apply the value of your current vehicle towards your next one. You’ll avoid all the hassle and wasted time that’s associated with listing your vehicle yourself, finding a buyer, and negotiating with total strangers. Instead of selling your vehicle on your own, the Rizza Auto Group leverages the buying power of 9 dealerships to ensure you the most money for your used car, truck, or SUV.
We’re also keenly aware that today’s car shoppers have done their research, not only on the vehicle they want to purchase – but the value of their trade-in as well. Using Tools from Black Book, Kelley Blue Book, and Edmunds, online research can deliver average values for most used cars. The Rizza Auto Group takes this one step further however – transparently sharing the local Chicagoland market conditions for any used car. We share with you how many vehicles like yours are currently for sale, and the asking price, condition, and mileage for every car like yours!
This information will help you to understand the supply and demand for vehicles like yours right here in the Chicagoland market – information that most other tools simply don’t provide. Just click the button below to get your vehicle’s current market report!
Get the Most for Your Trade – Quick Tips
Below, you’ll find some of our top tips for getting the most for your trade-in vehicle. Most are very simple and can go a long way towards getting you top dollar for your old car!
Complete Routine & Required Maintenance
Ideally, this begins long before it’s time for you to trade-in your vehicle. Performing routine maintenance such as oil changes, tire rotations, brake inspections, and other preventative services will increase the value of your vehicle by extending its lifespan. Better still, have this maintenance documented by the dealership you trust.
Save Your Receipts
Within a six-month window of trading in your vehicle, you should save any big-ticket repair receipts related to your vehicle. For example, if you recently replaced your tires with a set of brand-new ones – you’ll have a better chance of leveraging your expenses at trade-in.
Detailing the Interior & Exterior
Since cosmetic appearance is a big factor of trade-in value, having the interior and exterior of your vehicle cleaned by either yourself or a professional can be highly beneficial. The simple fact remains that clean, well taken care of vehicles are more in demand than worn out, damaged models.
Remember Seasonal/Demand Factors
While you might not consider them at first, there are several outside factors that can play a role in your car’s value. For example, trying to trade-in your convertible sports car during a snowy January weekend is not ideal. However, trading that exact vehicle in July will almost certainly be more lucrative. All-wheel drive sedans, SUVs, and 4X4 pickup trucks are in greater demand in winter. When gas prices are sky-high, gas-guzzling vehicles are less desirable while hybrid/electric vehicles will command a premium.
Our Convenient Value Your Trade Tool
Now that you have a clearer understanding of how trade-in pricing works, you’re just minutes away from getting a competitive price from our Value Your Trade Tool. This tool analyzes real-time data on both wholesale and retail pricing here in the local Chicagoland market to give you the most accurate pricing possible. Simply enter the year, make, and model information in the tool and the best match for your car will automatically populate. Our transparent market pricing tools give you a market value for your car based on all the vehicles for sale on the marketplace TODAY.