How to prepare your car for trade-in

When you are ready to get a new car, or you just want to get rid of an older car, it is time to work with your local dealer on a trade-in. While it is possible to just bring the trade-in to the dealer without any work at all, there are a few steps you can take to make sure you get as much as possible out of your old car. At Hartland Automotive Sales, we are happy to help you trade-in any car you would like and can make the process as simple as possible. Some of the things you can do to help prepare your car for trade-in includes:

The first step here is to get the car ready before you take it into the dealership. This means you should clean out the vehicle completely, both the inside and out. A good wash and wax can make the outside of the car look great. For the inside, get rid of your personal items and vacuum and wash everything. You can even have someone detail it to make it look amazing.

You should walk around and look at any of the minor issues that may be present with the car. Check the lights and replace any that need it. Check all of the fluid levels and top them off if necessary. If there are major issues, these are something that the dealer should handle for you. They will lower the price you get for the car, but the dealer can get them fixed for less than you can.

This would include options like the title on the car, the registration, the service records, and anything else that a potential buyer may need with the car. If you have done a good job of maintaining the car, it is more likely to retain some of its value compared to cars that are not maintained well.

If you have anything that would be considered extras to the car, then this is the time to grab them. You should bring the extra set of keys and any accessories that come with the vehicle as well.

Before you take it into the dealer, it is a good idea to conduct some of your own inspections. Look for any of the dings and dents that may be in the vehicle, and fix the ones that you can remove with some elbow grease. You can take it out for a drive and see whether anything seems to be wrong with it. Take note of these as well.

When you are ready to do a trade of your vehicle, contact us at Hartland Automotive Sales. We are able to give you the best price on your trade-in and can even help you find a new car to take home with you. No matter what type of car you want to trade or how bad it looks, we are happy to help. 

Contact us today to get started.