Want To Trade In Your Car or Truck? This Is The Best Time To Do It

Do I Want To Trade My Car or Truck?

This is generally the first question owners consider. Considering that most folks think the easiest way to get top dollar for their used car is to do it on their own instead of trading it in. Still, there are some factors to think about when thinking about if you should sell your car beforehand instead of trade it in.

Normally It Takes Longer Selling It Yourself

With only a few exceptions, selling a car can take many weeks, if not longer; particularly if your car needs repairs. You would be accountable for every facet of the sale process, from posting an ad, to test drives, to negotiating price, and everything in between. Conversely, trading in a vehicle generally happens at the time you purchase your new car.

Frustrating Documents

Usually the seller is accountable for the necessary paperwork, such as registration and the title. If you are new to selling, this could be a discouraging and long procedure if there are unexpected challenges, like a lien, connected to the paperwork. The dealership is capable of taking care of the paperwork, challenges included.

Tax Benefits

One of the most notable benefits to trading in your car is the possible tax savings offered in states with a state sales tax. In these states, there is a credit applied to the new vehicle’s sales tax if you trade in a car at the same place where they purchase the new one. The taxes are calculated at the price difference once the appraisal of the trade-in is factored into the final sale price. The savings can easily reach up to thousands of dollars, depending on which vehicle you are getting.

When Trading In A Car or Truck, What Is The Best Mileage?

There are plenty of thoughts on this question, especially since late model vehicles are designed for high mileage usage. But, there’s a general agreement of the following three mileage milestones to consider when trading in your vehicle:

30,000 To 40,000 miles

This is when nearly all new car warranties usually conclude. Conversely, this is when the first major replacement of ‘wear’ parts, like brakes or tires, are typically done on most cars. The depreciation of your vehicle will begin to accelerate faster at this point, so the closer your car is to this mileage, the better your trade-in value options will be.

60,000 To 70,000 miles

Depending on how much you drive, a car that reaches this mileage will generally be between 3 to 5 years old and most likely has been well maintained. As the miles pile up, the value of the vehicle tends to decrease so owners should keep this in mind when considering their trade-in.

100,000 Miles Or More

It’s true that hitting this mileage isn’t nearly the automotive death notice that it was in years past, thanks in part to advancements in modern technology. However, the higher the mileage of your car, the more the depreciation in all but the rarest cases. Vehicles within this mileage could still have a positive trade-in value even if they might not be in mint condition. The looks and mechanical condition of your vehicle is definitely reviewed more closely as the miles pile up on your odometer.

Trade-In Car Tips

Finally, a crucial component of trading in your car is being prepared for the trade-in assessment. These suggestions are not the only ideas but these steps can definitely help you get the best value out of your car.

Make Sure It’s Clean

This ought to be a no-brainer, but some people think that showing the vehicle ‘as-is’ is a more honest approach to a trade-in evaluation. While we do not advocate hiding blemishes or problems (spoiler alert, they will see through that regardless), it’s not a bad idea to clean up your vehicle before bringing it in for evaluation. This means getting rid of all debris and trash from inside the vehicle (including the trunk), washing and vacuuming the exterior and interior, and perhaps even doing a nice interior and exterior detailing. Just think of the appraiser as a potential buyer of your car and tidy up the vehicle accordingly.

Repair What You Can

We understand that repair costs can be overwhelming, especially for serious mechanical concerns. But, if it is possible to repair minor dings, defects in the paint, and cracks in the various mirrors, windows, and windshield, all of those cosmetic repairs will go a long way towards improving the value of your trade. If possible, we advise fixing any mechanical concerns the car may have as well. The nicer your car is, the more money you will get for your trade-in.

Be Prepared

If you have decided trading in your car is the way you want to go, then we suggest coming to the dealership with all of your vehicle’s documentation, which includes the title (if you have it), registration, any repair logs you have, and keys you have for the vehicle. Show up ready to trade-in your car and you won’t suffer any delays in driving away in your new car.

DealerRater May 7, 2022

A beautiful dealership with a many helpful people. The service department is phenomenal! I have a brand new 2022 Kia Telluride that had a bit of knocking under the car that was concerning. I tried a dealership closer to my home and could not get an appointment for another 14 days. I called Beck and Masten and was able to get an appointment the very next morning with Eric Schneider, Service Consultant. He wanted to take a closer look underneath the car so we made an appointment for the following morning. He put the car on the lift and was able to ...

Read at DealerRater

DealerRater Apr 13, 2022

Deion went above and beyond once again selling me my 2 newest additions to our Kia family! He's been amazing every single time. He's helped with my last 5! I've purchased 7 in total and I'm always impressed by sales, finance & service. See you when our new 2023 Sportages are ready for service or just to say Hi 😊

Read at DealerRater

Cars Sep 16, 2021

Each time I take my car to Beck-Masten-KIA I receive very good service starting with the Service Dept and their wonderful staff. Angelo always extends her hospitality as she explains all the details. .Roy,the Service Manager is always willing to listen to what is covered through my warranty. I love coming to Beck-Masten-KIA at Tomball =they are GREAT

Cars Aug 26, 2020

Brought my daughters Kia Optima in for service in July. Joan Stebbins in the service department was Outstanding !! The care and communication was second to None. I can"t say enough positive things about her and will always recommend !

Cars Jul 24, 2018

My husband and I bought a new truck Saturday our salesmen Izzy was awesome very informative and helpful and we left with a new truck and happy customer Mike & Carla Kazmieraki