So you’ve been browsing through AutoTrader, reading reviews, narrowing down your search criteria and have found what you think is your next vehicle, but there’s a problem, the car you currently drive’s dashboard looks like a Christmas tree when you turn the ignition on, and you’re unsure whether you can trade it in on something new. Let’s explore whether you can trade your problematic vehicle in, and what the implications are.
Can I trade my car in if it has problems?
The short answer is, yes, but with exceptions, of course. When trading your vehicle in all dealerships will ask you to bring it in for an evaluation where it is inspected for cosmetic and mechanical issues. It is always important to be honest with the dealership regarding issues with the vehicle as they will be more willing to structure a good deal than if you were deceptive.
If your vehicle has serious accident damage or major mechanical issues, the dealership in question may not see it as worthwhile to trade the vehicle in and refuse. If the damage is relatively minor in terms of the vehicle’s cosmetics or it requires major maintenance, the dealership may offer you a reduced price, but still trade the vehicle in and use some of their profit margin to recondition the vehicle. Dealers often have on-site service centres and have arrangements with upholsterers or body shops to fix the damage at a lower price than you, as a regular consumer would.
