Blog
What Do I Need to Trade in My Car?
June 16, 2020
Trading in your car is a simple process—especially when you do it at a dealership. At Macon Car Credit, we want to show Milledgeville, Warner Robins, and Macon, GA, motorists what they’ll need to trade in their cars.
Before you get trade-in quotes from dealers, you’ll want to collect some documents and other items. If you have everything you need, you can streamline the process and get in and out sooner!
What You Need to Trade in a Car
When you trade in any vehicle, you’ll need to bring a few documents with you to confirm that you own and legally drive the car in question. The items you need may include:
- Vehicle Title (often called a “Pink Slip”)
- Current Vehicle Registration
- Auto Loan Payoff & Account Information
- Driver’s License
- All Vehicle Keys
You’ll want to have all these items ready when you visit the dealership to make the sale. Before you do, though, you should make sure you’re getting the best possible deal. It’s important to do some research beforehand, and we’ll dive into that next.
Be Sure to Price Your Trade-In
To confirm that you’re getting good value for your car, you should always price it online before you talk to a dealership. For best results, consult trade-in values from various pricing guides, such as Edmunds or Kelley Blue Book.
You’ll need to enter in some background info on your car to receive an estimate. Have your mileage on hand as well as a realistic understanding of your car’s current condition.
This estimate may be the most important thing you need to trade in your car. It will offer you a starting point for negotiating and a benchmark for comparing dealerships’ offers.
Negotiate, Choose, & Close
To get your quotes, reach out to your dealership by phone or email. Tell them you’d like to sell your car, and they can give you a trade-in estimate based on your description of your car’s condition. Some offer online tools that can also give you an estimate.
You can compare what you get with your own estimates. Choose the dealership whose offer makes the most sense to you. Then, bring the documents and items listed above and close your deal.
If you still owe on your trade-in car, that’s perfectly fine. Shoppers with negative equity in their current car can reach an agreement to pay the dealership the difference or roll over the amount owed into the new loan. Be sure to consider that in your calculations and budgeting!
Learn More About Trade-Ins
At Macon Car Credit, we’re more than happy to help you explore the trade-in process. Macon, Warner Robins, and Milledgeville, GA, shoppers are welcome to reach out to us with questions.
If you need financing for your next new car, we’d love to hear from you as well! When you trade in your current car, contact our finance experts to help you find a competitive deal for your next new ride.