GET TOP DOLLAR FOR YOUR TRADE-IN

When you buy a new or pre-owned vehicle at Rhinelander Buick GMC near Wausau and Eagle River, WI, one of the first questions we ask is if you have a trade-in. Contributing one to your purchase lowers the amount you have to finance. In turn, this reduces your monthly payments and the total amount of interest paid. It also lessens the time you have to pay off the entire loan.

With all these benefits for your trade-in, you want to get as much for it as possible. Here are some suggestions to achieve that.

Find out what it’s worth.
The only way you let you know if what we’re offering you for your trade-in is good is if you know what your car is worth in the first place. You’ll need to research the price of a used version at Edmunds or Kelley Blue Book.

You’ll typically have to fill in a form that includes the vehicle identification number, year, make, model, trim, and options of your car. The website will then display an estimated trading range. Keep in mind that the trade-in value that we can offer you will be less than what a private buyer would give. We still have to make a profit on your vehicle.

Examine like a buyer.
If you were buying your used vehicle from someone else, what would you look at? Start with the exterior. You’ll need a friend to sit in the driver’s seat and turn on all the lights, step on the brakes, and activated turn signals. You can then walk around outside to see if all of the bulbs are working. Also make note of any dings, scratches, or any missing pieces from the body.

Now step inside and turn on the engine. Are you hearing any strange noises or noticing any weird odors? Try switching on and off all the accessories, such as the infotainment system, climate control, and the power seats. Again, write down any problems that you encounter.

Fix the little things.
If you discover anything that you can repair easily and inexpensively, go ahead and take care of it. For example, a burned-out bulb is usually something you can quickly repair by buying an inexpensive replacement at your auto center.

Don’t bother with major repairs, such as engine problems. You will not get the money or time that you invest in such a big fix. But do let us know about any issues so that our certified automotive technicians can take care of them.

If your vehicle has any open recalls, take it to a dealer who will fix it for free. We can then avoid having to deal with the recall ourselves.

Add to the value.
Bring back as much of the original equipment as possible. This can include owner’s manuals, infotainment instructions, smart keys, and tools. Any missing items can deduct from the value of the vehicle.

Some things that you can add are any invoices, receipts, or paperwork related to any maintenance or repairs done on your vehicles. Such documentation shows that you’ve taken good care of the car, which increases its trade-in value. Don’t forget that you also need to turn in the pink slip, insurance card, and registration.

Make it look good.
Officially, we’re only supposed to consider the year, make, model, mileage, options, and condition of any car that you trade-in to determine its value. However, we’re only human and so are our buyers. We are all impressed by a vehicle that looks shiny and new. So do your best to make your offering look that way.

Remove anything in the car that belongs to you and your family, such as fuzzy dice, coffee cups, toys, and emergency kits. You’re not going to receive anything extra for them, so you might as well transfer them to your next car. Eliminate any trash as well.

Then give your vehicle a thorough cleaning both inside and out. Don’t forget to take care of the interior of the windows as well as the underbody. If you don’t want to do it yourself, take it to a car wash and have everything professionally taken care of.