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How Does a Car Trade-In Work?
November 26, 2019
You’re moving up in the world, and it’s time your car reflected that. As you get ready to trade in the old car for a new one, you may be wondering: How does a car trade-in work? At Macon Car Credit, we want to show you how convenient the process is when you do it at a dealership.
See how you can part with your car when you’re ready to buy or lease a new one! We’ll lay it all out for Milledgeville, Warner Robins, and Macon drivers below.
Get Your Trade-In Appraised Online
Many dealers offer the chance to have your trade-in vehicle appraised online. Take advantage of this if you can! With some idea of what the dealer will offer, you can decide whether a trade-in makes sense at this time. You can also check the Kelley Blue Book® value online for a more independent valuation.
Have Your Car Inspected at the Dealer
The next step is to visit the dealer and inform them you’re looking to sell. The salesperson or a used car manager will perform a visual inspection of your vehicle and run its VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) through a vehicle history database to check its records. They may even take it for a drive.
Get Your Offer
Once the dealer has looked over your car, you’ll receive an offer. You’re under no obligation to take that offer. For example, you can negotiate if you have a different number in mind. This is where knowing the Kelley Blue Book® value comes in handy.
Fill Out the Paperwork
Once you come to an agreement on price, you can fill out the paperwork. If you have the title for the car on hand, this part can be completed that same day. If, however, you still owe money on the vehicle, the dealer will need to wait and get the title from your lender.
Why Trade in Your Car at the Dealer?
You have lots of options when it comes to selling your car. However, there are some unique benefits you see when you choose to do it through a dealer—the main one being convenience.
The dealer handles the paperwork and makes an offer as part of your overall car-buying transaction. You can complete the full transaction in one place. Drive to the dealership, trade in your car, and drive home in your next new car.
The value you get from your trade-in can be applied directly to the new car as a down payment. Do you still owe on the old loan? The dealer can roll it over to your new finance plan for your convenience.
Trade-Ins Made Simple for You
At Macon Car Credit, we want to make the trade-in process simple for Macon, Milledgeville, and Warner Robins drivers. If you have more questions about how a car trade-in works, simply contact our team and speak with our finance experts. We’re happy to help you learn more on the topic!