How to Preserve the Trade in Value of Your Vehicle

The trade in value of your vehicle is largely determined by how well you maintain it. When selling a vehicle, the next buyer will want to see that you’ve maintained it well. If you’ve recently had regular service performed at a dealership, the next buyer will see that you’ve taken care of your car. This will increase the trade-in value of your car. Here are some tips to help you keep your car in its best shape.

Avoid excessive mileage

Whether you plan to sell your car after a few years or you want to keep it for future use, avoiding excessive mileage will protect the trade-in value of your vehicle. If you drive too many miles per year, it will depreciate faster than you expected. Also, make sure that you have enough equity in your vehicle. The higher the equity, the better, as it reduces the risk of starting out upside down in your new vehicle. To maximize your equity, pay off your car in full before you lease a new one. If you are financing a new car, a higher down payment will reduce the interest charges and allow you to avoid high mileage rates.

To preserve the residual value of your vehicle, avoid driving more than 15,000 miles per year. Excessive mileage increases the depreciation of your car faster than normal, so you should drive it less often. Even if you love taking road trips, try to reduce your yearly mileage to a minimum. Those who commute by car could start a carpool with coworkers and cut down on the number of miles they drive each day.

Deep-cleaning

A clean engine compartment not only adds value to your vehicle, but it also makes it more appealing to potential buyers and dealerships. If you’re planning to sell your car, deep cleaning is a great way to maximize its trade-in value. The following tips will help you maximize your vehicle’s trade-in value. Clean your engine compartment thoroughly before bringing it to a dealership or to a private party for detailing.

A clean car will sell faster and for a higher price. You can expect up to a 200% return on your investment when selling a clean car. Professional detailing services can boost your resale value by more than 200%. If you are selling your used car, make sure to deep clean the interior as well. By doing so, you will be able to get the most money out of the sale.

Keeping documents together

If you’re trying to preserve the trade-in value of your car, keep all of the important documents with it. These include receipts, original car manual, and maintenance records. You won’t get back the money you spent, so it’s important to maximize its return. Keep all of your bills for work done on the car, so a potential buyer can review them if they’re needed.

Negotiating separately

When you’re in the market to buy a new car, make sure you negotiate the trade in value separately from the purchase price. This way, the salesperson will not try to get you to trade in your current vehicle for less than you’d like to pay. By doing so, you’ll make sure you get the best deal possible on the new car. Here are some tips to help you negotiate your trade in value.

Keeping your trade-in hidden will lower the amount you get for it. Moreover, if you’re not able to disclose the value of your current car, you’ll likely have to negotiate more than you were originally expecting. You can use this trick to stretch out the repayment period of your loan, but this can lead to a larger loan and higher interest. Instead of focusing on the monthly payment, focus on the overall price when negotiating.