When people go to buy a new car, the dealership is always eager to low ball you on your trade in. There are a few things you can do to make sure you get top dollar for your trade. First, do not volunteer that you are trading in your car until you negotiate the price of the new vehicle. The dealership will try to confuse you and combine your trade allowance of your new car with discounts they have on the car they are selling. Make sure to keep both transactions separate.
Next, it is important that when you do go to trade your vehicle in, make sure it looks in like new condition. I know this is easier said than done but appearance is everything. This means that having your car washed and detailed is well worth the money spent. The dealership figures in a detailing cost on all vehicles that are traded in. Lets say you spend $150.00 to have your car detailed. The trade in amount could be as high as 300 to 500 higher. Some people get in a hurry and do not want to bother cleaning their vehicles before the trade. Just remember you are throwing an extra 150.00 to 200.00 away.
If you are going to be cleaning your car yourself. It is recommended that you use professional car cleaning products. This will cut your time and half and grantee professional results. Do some research online and purchase the same car care products used by professional auto detailers that perform work for the same dealerships that are taking in the trades.