How to Trade in a Car

Determine Your Car's Worth

The first thing to do is get an idea for what you might be able to earn for your vehicle. That way, you can see what offer you can expect to get when trading it in and what would be a fair deal for your vehicle. Knowing the value of your vehicle too can help you budget accordingly for the new car you want to get.

How exactly can you figure out what your car is worth? By simply using the value your trade tool that is right on our website! This will give you a trusted Kelley Blue Book value for your car by simply providing some information about your car. After plugging in the model, model year, mileage, and other determine factors of your car's value into this tool, you'll get an estimated amount you could potential earn by trading it in.

Prep Your Car for the Trade-In

One of the aspects of your vehicle that determines its value too is the overall condition of the vehicle. The better the condition it is in, meaning its overall look and performance, the more you can earn for it.

That is why it might be worth handling a few things before you go ahead and trade it in. That includes cleaning the car. You'll want to wash the exterior and clean out the interior. As you do that, keep an eye out for any dents or scratches to the exterior and anything inside that may need to be fixed.

You can also spend some time checking a few key maintenance items. A quick fill of fluids, checking to make sure cabin features work properly, and ensuring the tires are inflated to the right air pressure can all help to make sure you earn the most for your trade-in.

Schedule an Appointment at the Dealership

With an estimate of your car's trade-in value and your car in its best condition possible, you are then ready to complete your trade-in! All that is left to do is contact the dealership so you can complete the transaction.

You can schedule a time to complete your trade-in when it works best within your schedule. Be sure to bring all the necessary paperwork with you too, include the title of the vehicle. When you arrive, the dealership will quickly inspect your vehicle before making you an offer.

Then once the offer is accepted, they will quickly handle the paperwork to complete the transaction and you can head for a walk around the lot to start searching for the new car you want to get with your trade-in credit!