The following article lists some simple, informative tips that will help you have a better experience with Trade.
The best time to learn about Trade is before you're in the thick of things. Wise readers will keep reading to earn some valuable Trade experience while it's still free.
The process of buying a new or newer car involves a lot of decision making. First, you have to decide what kind of car, pickup, suv, van you want. That decision depends on your individual taste, needs, financial situation, lifestyle, etc. Then you have to test drive vehicles and make a decision as to the one you want.
At that point, you then have to negotiate the sales price with the salesman. One of the first questions the salesman will ask you is whether you have a car to trade in? Now, you have another decision to make. That is whether or not to use your current car as a trade in. Trading in your car is certainly easy and convenient. In some states, you will even pay less sales tax with a trade in since it is calculated on the sale price of the new car minus the trade in amount. But, is a trade in a good idea? The answer depends on several things.
The first is if the car dealer wants your car. If your vehicle is in decent shape, has low mileage, is clean inside and out and gets good gas mileage, the dealer will want it. If this describes your car, make sure all the fluids in the car are good and the tires are good. This will assist you in getting the best trade in price for your car. Also, if you are a smoker, make sure you thoroughly clean the interior of the car. Car dealers will reduce the trade in amount for vehicles of smokers.
Unfortunately, if your car is only a year or less old, you probably will not get the amount you want for it. The reason is that it will be competing with new models that are similar. The car manufacturer may have special pricing to get customers to purchase the new car rather than the year old one.
If the car dealer has many cars on the lot that are similar to yours, they will not want your car and will not offer a lot for it as a trade in. Also, if your car has high mileage, has body damage, has mechanical issues, or gets poor gas mileage, the dealer will not really want it and will not offer you much for it. If the dealer does offer you a high trade in amount on a car like this, it means they will not budge much on the sale price of the car you are buying.
Most car buying guides suggest that unless you own a car that is desired by a car dealer, you will make a better deal on a new or newer car without a trade in. If that is your case, you simply have to decide between the other alternatives. Those alternatives are selling the used car privately, junking it or donating car to charity. Selling it is time consuming, cost money, is inconvenient and can come back to bite you if the new owner does not transfer the title. Junking the car will get a couple of hundred dollars if you can drive it to them. If you donate your car to charity, you are guaranteed at least a $500 tax deduction if you itemize on your federal return.
Knowing enough about Trade to make solid, informed choices cuts down on the fear factor. If you apply what you've just learned about Trade, you should have nothing to worry about.