Should I Fix My Car Before Trading In?

Drivers who are planning on trading in their current Ann Arbor vehicle will want the best offer possible, so often, many of them will ask “Should I fix my car before trading in?” Even though there is no guarantee that fixing your car can increase the trade-in price, Victory Toyota of Canton suggests that car owners should only fix anything minor and leave major issues untouched. This way, you might be able to boost the value safely without spending a whole lot of money out of pocket. Explore what to fix and what not to fix with Victory Toyota of Canton.

What Not To Fix Before A Trade-In?

While it might seem smart to fix as much as you can before taking in your car to your local dealership, major repairs aren’t worth the extra effort for the following reasons:

• You will spend a lot of money on major repairs, possibly a majority of or even more than how much you will get from the trade-in.
• It is way cheaper for dealers to fix these issues when they have the resources and a whole service team at their fingertips, which explains how they are able to bring in profit by buying and reselling pre-owned vehicles.
• The car dealer that you go to might not do a thorough check of your car, so it’s possible they might not account for the cost to fix anything major into the final trade-in price.

What To Fix Before A Trade-In?

Since major repairs are off-limits, then you are probably wondering “Should I fix my car at all before trading in?” There are some minor fixes your car can use before trading in your vehicle for a potential higher trade-in appraisal. Take basic and easy steps to allow the car dealer to have the best first impression of your Detroit ride. However, even with these minor repairs, the dealership can still subtract an amount of the trade-in value to cover reconditioning costs. See how you can beautify your vehicle with little effort in these following ways:

• Cover up any minor scratches with touch-up paint or other DIY methods.
• Get your car washed and waxed either by yourself or with a professional.
• Take out any miscellaneous items inside your car and clean the windows and carpets for a neat appearance.
• Examine the radiator, windshield-washer, brake fluid, oil, transmission fluid, and headlamps to see if they are in working condition.

You should be using fairly easy ways to help show the dealership that you have been taking care of your car. Remember that if you get too ambitious and aren’t completing these fixes right, the professionals at your dealership will be able to tell and hold it against you.

What Else To Do Before A Trade-In?

Victory Toyota of Canton will let you in on some other easy, but more effective ways to get the best price when you are trading in your vehicle near Dearborn. Show up to the dealership for your trade-in with the following:

• Neatly compiled maintenance records – It will be ideal if you have complete records, but if you don’t, you should bring the most recent ones.
• All accessories that came along with the car – When you bring everything that came with your car, the dealership can put the car on sale quickly. This could include winter tires that are much needed in MI, keys, and mats.

Finalize Your Trade-In at Victory Toyota of Canton Today!

Switch your car today when you come to us at Victory Toyota of Canton! If you are already a loyal Toyota owner and want another vehicle from the brand, take advantage of our Upgrade Program that can be completed in under 20 minutes. If you use this program, we will even throw in that day’s service bill on the house!