Honda Dealerships: Get the Most Out of Your Trade
Understanding Trade-In Appraisals
If you’re in the market for a new vehicle, chances are you have an old one to offload. While this may feel like an extra burden, it can actually be a great way to save big! Most Honda dealerships offer trade-ins, meaning when you trade in your old car, they’ll take the appraised value off the price of your new car.
Almost all Honda dealerships offer free trade-in appraisals. This is where they will inspect the car and determine its value. In order to get the best deal, you obviously want the appraised value to be as high as possible. While there are some factors that you cannot change (e.g. year, mileage, etc.) there are certainly some ways you can enhance the value of your vehicle before your trade-in appraisal.
Ways to Improve Your Trade-In Value at Honda Dealerships
Clean and detail the car.
Consider the last time you visited an open house… the lawn was probably impeccably groomed and the inside nice and tidy. There’s a reason for this – first impressions count! When it comes time to trade-in your vehicle, approach it the same way you would selling your home. Boost the curb value by ensuring it is sparkling clean, inside and out. Even if you have to pony up a few bucks to get the car detailed, it could end up making you a lot more in the long run.
Bring in your service records.
Making sure the outside looks good is important, but what most Honda Dealerships really care about is how well it works on the inside. If you’ve kept up with regular maintenance and service, bring the documentation with you to prove it. If the vehicle has never been in an accident, you can also present a CarFax report. Additionally, if the vehicle has any extended warranties, notify the dealer as it may be transferable and add extra value.
Fix what you can.
As with most Honda dealerships, the appraiser will go over every aspect of your vehicle. Even what you might consider minor issues, can greatly affect your car’s value. In order to get the most out of your trade, you should try to fix what you can before you go in. For example, things like cracked windshields, broken wiper blades or burned out light bulbs may be cheaper to fix on your own than the amount they would knock off your value.
Consider your tires.
If your tires are in decent shape, then there is no sense replacing them before you trade-in. However, if your tires are bald or below the wear bar, then investing in a better set could pocket you a lot more during your trade-in.
If you’re browsing Honda dealerships for a new vehicle, there are a number of reasons to consider trading in your old one. Not only will a trade help you score a lower price tag, it will also save you the hassle of trying to sell your car on your own. In order to get the most out of your trade, consider the tips above to enhance your value and get you into your new ride sooner!