How Do Dealers Value My Trade?

Things a Dealership Looks For

So, you want to bring your ride in for a trade. Great! When it comes down to it, what does a dealership look for in order to provide you with an accurate value? There are tools to calculate this, such as the Value Your Trade feature, but it’s always good to go in with an idea of what to expect.

There are specific features that are considered when you’re learning your trade-in’s worth, or value. Still, our dealer will be prepared to trade with you no matter what, and you already meet the standard for what we want to do.

When you come in for a trade, we’ll examine the following:

• The make of your ride
• The model and style
• The year
• Its condition
• Accessories or upgrades it has

Under a Microscope: The Dealer’s Details

We know we covered a brief overview of what happens when you arrive on site, but there’s more to it than that. Let’s dive right into those details, and see what dealerships search for beyond face value. Your ride’s appearance, condition, and everything else—we’ll talk about how it’s all taken into account.

A big factor is your machine’s condition, especially at first glance. You can count on an inspection being conducted, just to be sure that everything is functioning as it should prior to the trade. If this is something you’re curious about, be sure to talk to our team. We’ll go over it with you and answer any questions.

Likewise, another part that comes into play—perhaps not at length, but definitely considered—is the model itself, its make, and its year. If you’re driving a really popular and new set of wheels, then it’s very likely to be quickly purchased by a shopper down the line. Those rides that fly off the lot are highly valued, but so are those that are from earlier years. No matter what, our dealer will be looking forward to trading with you.

How You Can Increase Your Value

Let’s say you’ve been given an estimated value for your set of wheels. You might be wondering about the permanence of this, and whether it’s possible to change. In short: Yeah! You can change it up by doing a few things that will surely enhance your ride’s value.

Since its make, model, year, and style can’t be changed, the most direct way to go about it is by fixing up its condition. That’s not to say that it’s not in a good state—but if you go out of your way to repair any dings, scrapes, or conduct routine maintenance and necessary replacements, you’re going to find your value to be higher.

When you have an increased value, that means the down payment on your next ride of interest is likewise increased. You’ll have less cost to put down in the long run.