How to Get the Most for Your Trade

Sep 15, 2016

Nissan Car Appraiser

When it comes time for you to finally swap out that old ride for a brand new Nissan, make sure you get the most for your trade that you possibly can. Here at Conyers Nissan, we’re committed to giving you the best trade-in price for your vehicle possible, no matter the condition it’s in. But if you want to ensure you get absolute top dollar for your trade-in, here are a few tips that can often make a difference when it comes time to trade up. And keep in mind, these are good tips whether you want the convenience of trading in your car here at our dealership, or if you want to sell it yourself to a private party.

Dealership Trade-In Tips

The more work a dealership has to put into a vehicle to get it ready to sell, the less they’re likely to offer in trade-in value. In some cases, a car that requires a lot of work or repair isn’t even worth a dealership putting in the effort. That’s when they decide to “wholesale” the car or sell it at auction, and will usually offer less than what the car is worth. Well, you can avoid this fate by knowing a few tips and tricks of the trade, ensuring you get the most money possible out of your trade.

Research the actual value of your vehicle

This is a common mistake that car buyers make when trading in their old vehicle. Make sure you use one of the many vehicle valuation websites out there, like Kelley Blue Book, NADA Guides, or our Trade tool powered by Trade Pending. Also, you should understand that there is a difference between the retail value or what a private party might pay for your car, and the trade-in value at a dealership.

Take some time to clean and vacuum your car

There’s no need to pay a couple hundred bucks to detail it, but make sure your car is presentable and shows that you actually care. Appraisers tend to think that if a vehicle is cared for on the outside, then basic maintenance has likely also been performed. It’s the regular maintenance that can make your car appear more valuable, and that can lead to a higher offered price.

Repair Small Items that look Aesthetically Unpleasing

Believe it or not, even an experienced appraiser can be influenced by those little scratches, cracked lenses, or sagging headliners. Fixing these small items can lead to a big payback in terms of valuation. Also, door locks or electronic windows that don’t work should be repaired if it can be done cheaply, as these flaws can lead to a lower offering price.

Don’t be Afriad to Use Your Trade-In As a Bargaining Chip

This final tip may seem to go against our interest as a dealership, but as long as we’re giving tips we’d better be honest. When you’re buying a vehicle from us, we want to make the sale. In fact, we often offer more for a trade-in than it’s worth, simply because it’s worth it to us to increase the volume of new car sales we make. Because of this, some of our customers are able to negotiate higher trade-in values than they would normally be able to receive, simply by asking for it.

Here at Conyers Nissan, we go out of our way to help you in buying the new Nissan car, truck, SUV or crossover you want. It’s our pleasure and privilege to serve our customers, and to give them the best deal possible. Stop by and see what your old trade-in is worth here at Conyers Nissan. You might just be surprised at how much you can get.