How to Trade In a Car

If you're ready to buy a used car with good mileage or even a new vehicle, you may be wondering, "How can I get the best offer on my trade-in car?" At Haggerty Buick GMC, we've come up with a guide to help you learn more about how to trade in a car. Check out our short list of trade-in tips! Follow the steps below to improve your chances of getting the best possible trade-in offers!

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Get Your Trade-In Car's Value

Before you can select an offer, you need to know what your car is worth. The best way to do this is with our handy value your trade tool! Simply submit your car's year, make, and model, along with your name, email, and phone number. You'll then receive a report that details the local market supply, popularity, and estimated value of your car. You can also use other trade-in value tools like Kelley Blue Book® Value and Edmunds True Market Value® to help you ensure you're getting a good offer for your vehicle.

Get an Appraisal

The next step is getting your vehicle appraised. You can make an appointment at CarMax and/or with us at Haggerty Buick GMC. When you visit CarMax, they will complete a detailed car inspection that's valid for a week. When you schedule an appraisal with us, we'll examine the car's condition and consider our used inventory and whether we can sell the car. If you visit a CarMax, and then schedule a follow-up appointment with us, be sure to bring your CarMax appraisal (as well as other trade-in offers) for our reference.

Negotiate or Accept a Trade-In Offer

After appraisals are complete, you can choose to negotiate, or accept the terms and close the deal. While choosing the highest offer may seem obvious, there could be a better option for you. Here are a few trade-in tips to keep in mind:

You can't negotiate with CarMax. Once they give you a trade-in amount, it can't be increased. There's usually some room to negotiate at a dealership.

If you still owe money on your auto loans and wish to consolidate what you owe with the price of your new car, you'll have better luck at a dealership. CarMax will expect the difference between what's owed on your car loan and the car's worth.

Once you make a decision, you can finalize your trade-in for cash, or put the car's value toward buying a new car.

Learn More About Car Trade-Ins at Haggerty Buick GMC!

Now that we've answered "how to trade in my car," you can get behind the wheel of a new model and sell your vehicle to us. If you have questions about trade-in cars, want to learn about the Buick Enclave towing capability, or wish to learn more on the 2020 GMC Terrain configurations, contact us today! While here, ask about our certified pre-owned inventory and used car deals or best pumpkin patches in Illinois as well.