It's Your Used Car - Not the Dealer's

Many consumers are concerned about "trade ins" when they are buying a new car from a car dealer. A "trade in" can be defined as a vehicle that you sell to the car dealer that you are buying another vehicle from. Some people believe that you are required to "trade in" your vehicle, but this situation is not the case at all. In fact, trading in your car can be more confusing for you, as you then would have to deal with more than one set of figures during the negotiation process. Additionally, you can get more money for your older car by utilizing other methods to unload your older vehicle.

If you do decide to "trade in" your used car, you can expect to get no more than the wholesale price for your car. Consequently, you will definitely not get the NADAGuides.com car price for the vehicle when you do sell your older car to that particular dealership. As a direct result, it is important to investigate other avenues so that you will get hundreds or even thousands more for the vehicle that you are trying to sell. To determine the retail value of the car, it is a good idea to visit a website such as Autobytel.com, Autoweb.com, CarSmart.com, Edmunds.com, NADAGuides.com and Autos.yahoo.com.

Now that you have information concerning the approximate value of your used car, the next step is to ensure that your vehicle is in a presentable, clean state. Drive your used car to other dealers that sell used cars for comparison's sake. Once you are at a used car dealer, simply ask the salesperson or manager how much that car dealer will give you for the vehicle. (In general, car dealers will offer you a price that is about 10-15% below the wholesale value of the car.) You then can accept the best offer that you receive from these auto dealers.

If you do not have the time for this process, you can trade the car into the car dealer from whom you are buying your new car. Once again, check the trade-in value of your car at Autobytel.com, Autoweb.com, CarSmart.com, Edmunds.com, NADAGuides.com or Autos.yahoo.com and then make any price adjustment due to low or high mileage. If you are still making payments on the vehicle, make sure to double check the details with the bank. Of course, ensure that your car is properly cleaned and waxed so that the car dealership cannot charge you a fee to complete this job for you at a higher price. Also, it is a good idea to change the radiator fluid, oil and the oil filter, as people at the car dealership may look at this factor as an indicator of how well the vehicle has been maintained in general.

Another option, of course, is to sell the vehicle on your own. This endeavor requires you to advertise the vehicle, answer phone calls and take the vehicle out on test drives with prospective customers. This type of sale will result in more money for you, but this method does require more time and energy on your part. Additionally, there is always a chance (however small) that the new owner may file a lawsuit against you if something were to go wrong with the vehicle right away.

There is yetanother option for you to unload your used car. There is the possibility that you can donate your used vehicle to a reputable charity. This method can save you the trouble of selling or trading in your used vehicle and it will also definitely help a worthwhile charity. Plus, you can always claim the fair market value of the vehicle on your tax return. Overall then, consumers have plenty of choices when it comes to selling their used vehicle.