Getting The Most Out Of A Vehicle Trade

So you’re ready to trade in your old vehicle to get a new one? Stop right there, because in its current state your vehicle could be worth just a fraction of its potential trade-in price. You might be a great driver with plenty of miles under your belt, but that doesn’t mean you’ve treated your car perfectly. There are plenty of little touch-ups and modifications you can make to ensure you get the best trade-in value as possible. However, if you’ve not bought a vehicle yet then you’re in luck. By following these tips from the day you purchase your new vehicle, you’ll be able to retain its maximum resale or trade-in value without stressing yourself out.

Keep in interior looking great

Whenever there’s a spill, make sure you clean it up instantly. Worried that the sun will make your interior dull? Then go to tintfactory.com and install tinting on your windows. It’s important that you keep the interior looking as great as the exterior. Give it a little clean before you get it appraised but don’t go overboard. What you’re trying to do here is reduce the effects of long-term exposure to UV rays from the sun. Regular car windows (even if they come factory-tinted) don’t protect your vehicle from UV rays, and there’s a good chance that your upholstery will fade and look worn-out.

Don’t clean or repair your car

A common mistake that people make is to repair and clean the car before trading it in. If your vehicle looks absolutely filthy then you may want to blast it with some water, but don’t go out of your way to bring it to a car wash. Don’t take your vehicle to a repair shop to fix it either. As long as the car works and can make it to the dealership or trader, the condition doesn’t matter as much. However, if you are able to fix the vehicle yourself for free then it might be worth the effort. A couple of dents or scratches could be fixed, but the dealership will likely have the means to repair it for far less.

Car maintenance over time

It’s a good idea to follow basic car maintenance tips. Refer to this list from theaa.com to get a solid idea of what you should be looking at. The tires need to be replaced if your vehicle has been on the road for a while, and you may want to check the tire pressure on a regular basis. Ensure that the windscreen wipers work and make sure you change the oil at some point. These maintenance tips should only be followed if you don’t plan to sell your car for a while because you can still get some use out of the vehicle. However, if you’re trying to immediately sell, then these car maintenance tips don’t’ need to be carried out. The idea is to keep your car in creation condition as you use it so that when the time comes to trade it in, you have a fully-working car with zero flaws.