When buying a new car, it’s always vital to get the best possible trade in price for your existing vehicle. Your aim should be to reduce, as far as possible, the gap between what you’re paid for your current car and what you have to pay for your new one. You can give yourself a better chance of obtaining a good deal by following a few simple steps.

Research the market value of your car

A little while reading up on the market value of cars similar to yours will be time well spent. Look through car price guides, and scan dealers’ advertisements in newspapers and on appropriate websites. If your current car is relatively old, then the “Part Exchange to Clear” sections of local newspaper advertisements can be a very valuable resource, though you will need to take account of the relevant garages’ profit margins. Owners’ groups can also be a good source of information, especially with sports cars or classics.

Make sure your car looks at its best

First impressions count when selling a car as much as they do in any other walk of life, so it’s always worth spending a little time giving your vehicle some grooming. That doesn’t just mean cleaning the bodywork, either, although that’s certainly important. As well as thoroughly washing the exterior of the car – including hard-to-reach areas such as underneath the door handles – you should pay attention to the interior too. Run a vacuum cleaner across the seats and carpets, and make absolutely sure there’s no litter under any of the seats.

Negotiate, but know your limits too

There’s nothing forcing you to sell your car to the first person to make an offer. In fact, particularly at a main dealer, the first trade in price suggested is likely to be rather poor value for you. Always be prepared to negotiate – even in the current economic climate, sales personnel may have considerable scope for improving their initial offers. If you’re put under undue pressure to say yes or no to an offer without being given time to think it over, that’s a major red flag and you should simply walk away.

Following the above steps won’t guarantee you a high trade in price, but it will improve your odds very considerably. After their house, a car is the second most expensive item most people will buy, so the money to be saved by doing a bit of preparation first can be very considerable.

Photo courtesy of labrador

Guest post provided by We Buy Any Car eliminating all the hassles normally associated with selling your vehicle in the open market.

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Filed under: Automotive

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