Gather Important Documents
Before you bring your vehicle to a dealership, you will need to locate the documents that prove that you are the owner of your vehicle. Most importantly, you will need the title of your vehicle. While you can also bring your vehicle’s registration with you as additional proof of ownership, the dealership will need your vehicle’s title to be able to accept the vehicle from you. Once you have agreed on a deal with the dealership, you will sign the vehicle’s title over to the dealership, making them the new owners of your vehicle.
Your name will need to be on your vehicle’s title for the dealership to accept the vehicle. If your name is on the vehicle’s title with another person’s name, then you will need to bring that other person with you to the transaction so that they can sign the title as well. If the vehicle’s title has a lien on it, then you will need to contact the lender beforehand so that they can approve the trade-in or sign the title over to you.
Research the Value of Your Vehicle
You will need to know how much your vehicle is worth before you trade it in. Not only will this provide you with negotiating power, but it will also allow you to determine how much money you will need to bring to your next purchase.
There are several ways that you can go about determining the value of your trade-in. You can choose to use online valuation tools, which will provide you with estimates that are based on several factors, like your vehicle’s condition, the mileage of the vehicle, where the vehicle has been driven, and more. You can also visit various dealerships and have them appraise your car. Online valuation tools will provide estimates for you to keep in mind, but dealership appraisals will provide you with real values based on the current market.
Fix Minor Issues
Fixing minor issues on your vehicle, like scratched paint or broken trim pieces, will help you to get more for your vehicle when you trade it in. You should present your vehicle to a dealership in the best condition possible, as this will allow them to easily place the vehicle on their lot without needing to complete their own repairs on the vehicle. However, you don’t need to spend too much when repairing your vehicle, because you will not be reimbursed for the repairs that you make. In some cases, the repairs that need to be done can be more costly than the vehicle is worth. Determine how much you can get for your vehicle before you begin making any repairs on it.
Clean Your Vehicle
One of the last things that you should do before bringing your vehicle to a dealership as a trade-in is cleaning the vehicle. Clean your vehicle from its inside to its outside before you present it to a dealer, especially making sure to remove items that are important to you from the vehicle. A dealership is more likely to give you more for your vehicle when it looks its best.
Shop Around
You don’t have to accept the first trade-in offer that you get for your vehicle. Shop around at different dealerships to view their inventories and to see what offers they are willing to make on your vehicle. If you have a specific dealership that you would like to purchase a car from, you can use any other offers that you receive for your vehicle as a tool for negotiating.
Conclusion
Take the first step towards owning your new vehicle by preparing to trade in your current vehicle. Properly preparing your vehicle as a trade-in will allow you to receive the most for it and enter into your new car purchase with as much as possible. At Anderson Buick GMC, we can help you get into your new vehicle. Visit us so that we can provide all of the information that you will need to make a well-informed purchasing decision.