How do I prepare my car for trade-in?
When trading a car in it's imperative to present the best possible version of the car. The better your car presents itself, the more likely you are to get a higher value on the trade-in. We look at 5 things that you can do to prepare your car and get the most out of the trade-in value.
Trading your car in for another may be the more convenient way of getting into a new car but it's not without its fair share of concerns. Aside from the fact that you won't be getting top-dollar for your current car, there are additional things that you need to prepare ahead of this transaction.
Related: Is it better to sell or trade-in a car?
Trading your car in does make the process of getting rid of your current car easier but no one is prepared to take a massive loss on it, even if trading it in is simpler and free of stress. You'll want to make sure that you're getting the most money for your car as this means that your next lot of car repayments will be lower. Here are a few things to do before taking your car to a dealer for evaluation to ensure that you get the most out.
1. Clean it
This is a fairly obvious step but it's one that bears repeating. You may not feel as warm and fuzzy about your old car as you once did, but you don't need to show the dealer that by presenting them with an unkempt car. Treat it to a thorough valet where the car wash will shampoo carpets and upholstery to remove stains and odours. You'll want to remove all traces of your ownership and that includes items of clothing, pictures and of course, all those wrappers that you've stashed in the door bins. Clear out the boot and leave only the items that came with the car, the jack, tools and wheel spanner.
It's worth your while to have the car polished to remove small scratches and bring the paintwork back to life. Spending a few hundred Rand here can add thousands to the value of the car.
2. Repair it
While we're not all mechanics, there are a few things that you will be able to do yourself to help bring the car closer to its original condition. Check all the lightbulbs and replace those that don't work. This includes the bulbs for the interior, number plate and if there are any fitted inside the boot. If your headlights are faded, look at getting them polished or you could attempt to do this yourself. There are many tutorials on YouTube that can help you restore faded headlights.
Make a list of the small things that are wrong with the car and check to see what you can do yourself, or have done that won't cost you the earth. Paint touchups, services, and wheel alignment are both within the scope of your own pocket and if there are a few hail dents, it's worth investigating how much it will cost to repair. Having minor chips in the windscreen repaired is also a good idea and while you're at it, check all the fluids. As long as your tyres (spare wheel included) have at least a few millimetres of tread left, you should be fine but if they are balding, it may be in your best interest to fit new tyres. While expensive, it may very well cost less than the discount the dealer will impose on your trade-in.
3. Get the extras
take stock of all the extras you received with the car or car specific items that you can include with the trade-in. This includes things like spare keys, tool kits, and car covers. Off-road vehicles with spare wheel covers should have the cover included in the handover.
4. Grab the documents
Get all the documents relating to the car together and make up a binder that includes the eNatis registration (and even those of earlier years), service books, owners manuals and even receipts from previous work or services that you had done. If there was a repair at some time in its life, the invoice for this repair will help put the dealer's, and future buyers', minds at ease. Grab any and all paperwork you can find on the car and include it in this folder.
5. Know its worth
It's best to go to the dealer armed with an idea of what a vehicle like yours, in your colour and with similar mileage, retails for. While you won't be able to expect that full retail price, you will be able to gauge whether you're getting a decent deal or not. Less ethical dealers will try and low-ball you, offering you a pittance for your current car so that they can place a larger markup on it when they sell it. Knowing what the average retail price of your car is will help you spot a dealer that isn't working in your best interest.
