Should I Sell My Car or Trade It In?

When customers come to Automax Truck and Car Center, they are in for a host of opportunities. We have a massive inventory of used cars, SUVs, and trucks from a wide variety of manufacturers so that our buyers are certain to find precisely what they need to add some pep to their driving lifestyle. We often run specials, which is one reason you should regularly check our website, and we are always happy to help with financing your purchase, too.

In addition to all this, we also will happily buy your car or arrange a trade-in. However, there is occasionally a little confusion on the difference between the two. In fact, many who come into our dealership often tell us, “I don’t know if I should sell my car or should I trade it in.” We’re happy to discuss the pros and cons of both in person, but we wanted to walk you through the differences between the two today so that you have an idea before you even step through our doors.

What’s Involved With Selling My Car?

It’s pretty simple, although there are some items to prepare ahead of time.

Once you have made your decision to sell, you do not want to put it off. We get it, life is busy, and sometimes things fall by the wayside. However, the longer you delay, the more you risk your vehicle’s sale price decreasing, resulting in you receiving less cash. You should also research the market value of your vehicle based on model year, options, and mileage so that you arrive with a notion of where your sale price should be. Also, inspect your vehicle, noting both positives and negatives, as these also affect its value. Many customers thoroughly clean their vehicle before trying to sell it, which helps to increase its value. What you spend to get your car detailed may bring many times that value when it comes to selling your car. Make sure you also have your car’s title and keys or key fobs, along with any paperwork related to an outstanding loan on the vehicle.

Once all this is done, it’s time to visit us. We’ll take a look at your vehicle and offer top-dollar for it. (The demand for used cars has skyrocketed, so we are very eager buyers.) Our experts will be happy to discuss how they arrived at the price so that you understand why you’re being quoted the amount you are. Once a deal is made, you’ll pass the title and keys to us and head home with your cash. Remember that if you still have an existing car loan, that will need to be paid off first. You’ll still get paid what we offer on your vehicle minus your remaining loan balance.

You can even start this selling process on our website and get an idea of the dollar amount you could get. This won’t be a final offer since we need to see the car ourselves, but it’ll give you a ballpark figure of what kind of offer you can expect. We like having this available for you because you come in already feeling confident and can have a faster experience, so none of your valuable time is wasted.

What’s Involved With Trading In My Car?

When you trade in your current ride, a lot of the process is similar to selling it outright. Just as before, you’ll want to make sure you have the needed materials, have given your vehicle a close examination yourself, and do some research on price beforehand so that you know the ballpark range of the quote you’ll be receiving. Make sure your financial statements in regards to the vehicle you’re trading in, if there are any, are organized, too. Then you visit us, and we’ll take a look at your car’s make and condition and offer you a fair price for it.

Unlike with selling, however, the money for your current car goes directly into the cost of your next ride. Your down payment can be much lower, or even non-existent. You could even plan ahead of time by calculating what you should receive for your current car and how much of that can cover another vehicle. For instance, if you want your current car’s value to be 50% of the cost of your new purchase, that can help guide you as you examine our selection.

As with selling, you can also use the money from your trade-in to relieve yourself of any remaining loan on your older vehicle. Any remaining balance on your current loan will get rolled into the loan on your new vehicle, and the old loan will get paid off. That way, you won’t have to worry about loans on both your new ride and a car you no longer own. In short, trade-ins drastically reduce the amount you have to pay for the used model you purchase from our large selection and make getting rid of a car you still have a loan on easier. It takes a lot of the stress out of the buying process and lets you cruise home feeling good about yourself.

Which Is Better for Me?

There is no single answer. It entirely depends on your circumstances. If you want to make some cash for your car, but you aren’t yet sure what your next ride will be or don’t even need a new one, then selling your car is the right move. This would certainly apply to folks who rarely use a spare car, such as parents whose kids have now left the house or someone who has changed to a remote job. You can keep the money until you’ve decided what new car you’re going to purchase, spend it elsewhere if you’re not planning to purchase a new automobile, or invest it so you can enjoy your golden years.

On the flip side, if you are planning to purchase a new ride, then a trade-in makes a lot of sense, especially if you already see one on our lot that perfectly matches your desires. The trade-in process reduces the cost, which makes the entire transaction far less stressful, and you’ll get to pick a car that truly meets your needs instead of worrying as much about the sticker price. If you want a used car but aren’t sure what kind of vehicle you want, that’s what we are for. We can even use your trade-in value as a great starting point for your search. Another benefit is that transferring your title and registration will be easy since the whole selling and buying process takes place at the same location. If you’re also looking to keep the process of switching cars as simple and quick as possible, a trade-in will serve you well as everything can be done simultaneously and with guidance, thanks to our customer service experts.

Both options, however, are superior to trying to make a sale or swap on your own. Selling or swapping your vehicle to an unknown buyer has a level of risk and uncertainty that you don’t want to put yourself through. It’s one thing if you can sell to someone you know, but in many cases the act of selling your vehicle requires putting out an ad online or in a newspaper, and you don’t know who will contact you or how honest they will be. Some people believe they can get a few extra bucks by selling their vehicle on their own, but they too quickly forget the downsides. You have to put up your own ads and research the best places to put them. You need to make sure that you are knowledgeable enough to speak about your car’s details and specs. You also need to spend time talking and haggling with prospective buyers who may be more adept at negotiations than you, resulting in you getting less money than you deserve. All in all, you might be opening a can of worms that you don’t want to.

No Matter Which You Choose, You Should Do It With Us

Whether you decide to sell your car or trade it in, you should do so here at Automax Truck and Car Center. While you might think we’re a bit biased, we have a compelling case. By selling or trading to us, you’re saving yourself valuable time. By coming to us, you’re saving yourself a lot of time and energy, and also taking the safer route. If you’re still wondering why you should pick our dealership in particular, we host customer testimonials on our website so that you can see why past customers have been so very happy with the service that we’ve provided them.