<center>Want To Trade In Your Car? This Is The Ideal Time To Do It</center>
Perhaps one of the biggest decisions in the life of your current car is understanding "when is the best time to trade ?" Do you trade it in after a specific time frame? Is there such a thing as too many miles on the odometer? What if it is not in mint condition? It probably won't surprise you to learn that there isn't a one-size-fits-all answer to these questions. But, we've got a few tips and advice to help you decide what time is the best time to trade in your car or truck.
Is It Time To Trade In My Car?
This is usually the first thing owners ask themselves. Considering that most folks believe the best way to get top dollar for their used vehicle is to do it on their own instead of trading it for another vehicle. However, there are some factors to look at when trying to decide if you should trade your car or just sell it separately.
Normally It Takes Longer Selling It Yourself
Selling a vehicle can take many weeks or longer; particularly if your car needs repair work. You would be accountable for every single part of the sale process, from advertising, to scheduling test drives, to arguing the price, and anything else that pops up. Conversely, trading in a vehicle almost always occurs at the time you get your new vehicle.
Document Hassles
Typically you would be responsible for getting the buyer the paperwork, such as the title and registration. Trying to do everything all alone could be a discouraging and even lengthy process if there are unexpected challenges, like a lien, attached to the paperwork. We are ready to take care of the paperwork, surprises included.
Tax Savings
One of the biggest benefits to trading in your vehicle is the possible tax savings in areas with a state sales tax. For these states, there's a financial credit applied to your new car's sales tax if you trade in a vehicle at the same location where they buy a new car. Simply, the taxes are applied to the price difference after the trade-in price is figured into the new car price. The savings can reach up to thousands of dollars, depending on the car you're getting.
What's The Best Mileage When Trading In A Car or Truck?
There are plenty of schools of thought on this, especially since newer vehicles are designed for high mileage usage. However, there's a general agreement of the following three mileage milestones to keep in mind when considering trading your car in:
30 - 40k miles
This is the time when the majority of new car warranties end. Conversely, this is when the first major replacement or repairs of 'wear-and-tear' items, like brakes or tires, are usually performed on vehicles. Your car depreciation will start to increase more quickly after this milestone, so the closer your car is to these miles, the better your trade-in appraisal will be.
60k - 70k miles
Depending on usage, a car that reaches this mileage will typically be three to five years old and most likely has been well taken care of. Clearly as the miles pile up, the value of the vehicle gets lower so owners should think about this when weighing their trade-in.
100k Miles Or More
It's true that hitting this milestone is no longer the automotive death sentence that it was in years past thanks to modern technology. However, the more mileage of your car, the more the depreciation. Vehicles within this mileage can still have value even if they aren’t in pristine condition. The condition of the vehicle is definitely scrutinized more closely as the miles grow on your odometer.
Tips For Trading In Your Car
Finally, a meaningful component of trading in your car is preparation for the trade-in assessment. The following suggestions are not an exhaustive list, to be sure, but these steps can definitely help you get the most value out of your trade.
Clean It Up
This ought to be a fairly obvious point, but people think that presenting the car 'as-is' is an honest approach to a trade-in assessment. While we are not advocating trying to hide blemishes or problems with the vehicle (spoiler alert, automotive assessors will see through those attempts anyway), it's always a good idea to clean up your vehicle to the best of your ability before bringing it in for evaluation. This means removing all debris and trash from inside your car (yes the trunk too), vacuuming and washing the interior and exterior, and perhaps even doing a nice interior and exterior detailing. Just think of the appraiser as a buyer of the vehicle and tidy up the vehicle.
Repair What You Can
We get that repair bills can be overwhelming, especially for serious mechanical problems. But, if you can fix minor dings, defects in the paint, and cracks in the various windshield, mirrors, and windows, all of those cosmetic repairs will go a long way towards improving the value of your trade. When possible, we suggest repairing any mechanical problems the vehicle may have. The better the condition, the higher the trade-in value will be.
Be Prepared
If you've decided that trading in your vehicle is the best option for you, then we suggest coming to the dealership with all of your car's documentation, which includes the title (if it's in your possession), registration, any repair receipts you have, and all copies of the vehicle's keys. Show up ready to trade your car in and you will speed up the process of driving away in your new vehicle.
Where to Trade In my Used Car or Truck In San Antonio, TX
IPAC Pre-Owned Outlet invites you to trade in your used car, truck or SUV in San Antonio, TX. No matter the day of the week, time of the month or year, we are happy to value your trade-in and get you into a new vehicle. Visit any of our conveniently located used car dealerships in person or give us a call to schedule an appointment.
