Are you considering the purchase of a new car? How do you trade in your car? Suffice it to say, your current car is chocked full of memories of carpools, commutes and vacations alike. But, you’re ready to trade in Brown Betty for, well, something a little more shiny and new. It comes down to the preparation for doing so.

What are some tips when considering trading in a vehicle? Let CarSnoop break it down.

Get current on service.

Have you had the oil changed? Did you rotate the tires? Is the vehicle running properly? You’ll want to be sure you’re up-to-date on service records and maintenance to avoid any problems that will decrease your trade-in value. If you have damage to your vehicle, consider repairing it. Otherwise that will impact the dealer’s evaluation.

Give your vehicle a good cleaning.

So Brown Betty has been on lots of road trips and family vacations with you…give her a good wash and vacuum before you go to the dealership for review. Putting forth the effort (or paying someone to detail it) will improve the value of your vehicle. Discard the Cheerios, empty water bottles and Starbucks receipts. Do your best to have the vehicle looking its best.

Check into your car’s value.

It’s worth popping onto the popular Kelly Blue Book website to see what a fair market value of your vehicle is. While it is a good benchmark, it certainly will be up to the dealer to review your car. If you’re not the original owner of the vehicle, you can also find its history via Carfax. That tool documents details for anything which required extensive repair which could affect the trade-in value.

Know the dealership. 

When you consider which dealership to take your vehicle for trade, several factors could impact the value you’re given. Your value will likely be considered with the current used car inventory on that dealer’s lot in mind. The dealer needs to think about the likelihood fo reselling your vehicle based on what they have on the lot alongside consumer demand. You may also find dealers who are promoting deals with trade-ins or end of month eagerness to hit sales quotas. Shop dealerships to see where your trade-in wil

Be aware that a dealership’s offer on your trade-in can be affected by several factors, including current inventory and the likelihood the car will sell. Look for dealers who may be offering special promotions with trade-ins, or visit at the end of the month when sales quotas need to be met. It’s always recommended to get quotes from competing dealerships to find the best deal.

Want to avoid the in-person trade-in evaluation?

We have the solution. With CarSnoop, we’ll walk you through the steps of providing dealers details of your trade-in. It’s all done via your phone or computer. The new car buying with a trade is so easy with CarSnoop. Let us save you time and hassle. You’ll experience a stress-free way to buy a new car with a trade.