Should I Fix My Car Before Trading In?

If you’re shopping for a new or new-to-you vehicle and want to trade in the one you have, you might think about fixing it up a bit ahead of getting an offer from a dealership near Nederland. Even a few small things can increase the curb appeal and the trade-in value of your current vehicle before you receive an offer. Find out more with our guide from the team at Classic Chevrolet Beaumont! We’ll answer your question, “Should I fix my car before trading in?”

Fixing My Car Before the Trade: What Not to Fix

We advise you not to fix anything major ahead of getting your trade-in value. Here’s why.

• Major repairs will be expensive, which will lower how much you’ll actually get from the trade-in. As an example, let’s say you spend $1,000 to replace the radiator. But, that new part only raises the trade-in value by $200
• Dealerships have expert service technicians and tools to easily fix major issues at a way lower cost than you’ll spend out of pocket. That’s how dealerships make a profit on trade-ins. They bring in gently used cars and make them closer to like-new cars!
• Some dealerships might not perform a detailed inspection of your car before finalizing the trade-in. If that’s the case, they might not deduct the cost of these repairs from your trade-in value.

Fixing My Car Before the Trade: What to Fix 

What should you fix in your Vidor commuter to improve its trade-in value? Consider fixing minor things to make it look more presentable. If a service center takes a look, the trained eyes of the service technicians might see some things they need to repair that you might not notice. 

See this brief list of things you can do to spruce up your vehicle’s appearance to increase the trade-in value:

• Clean out the inside thoroughly. Dispose of any garbage, take out personal items, and clean the windows and carpets. 
• Wash the car. Whether you decide to do it yourself or go to a professional, you should wash the car to get rid of any marks and stains inside and out.
• Fix any scratches. If the scratches are minor, you can try to fix car paint scratches at home with a DIY kit.
• Wax your car. After washing your car, truck, or SUV, you can wax it to give it a shiny finish 
• Check all of the lights. Make sure they’re working properly and replace them if needed. Look at the headlights, taillights, caution lights, and turn signals.
• Check all of the fluids. This includes the brake fluid, transmission fluid, oil, coolant/anti-freeze, and wiper fluid. Make sure they’re up to date, so the dealer will know you’ve been keeping up with basic maintenance. Consider getting an oil change, too.
• Replace the mats. It’ll make the floor look cleaner!

Doing the minimum will show the dealership that your vehicle has been taken care of. Also, consider what repairs you can or can’t do. If the repair isn’t done properly, it could affect the final trade-in value.

What Else Should I Fix on My Car Before Trading In?

Fixing your car may seem like a double-edged sword. You’ll need to spend some money to try to increase the trade-in value of a vehicle you won’t drive anymore. But, there are some things you can do that don’t cost a thing to make this process easier.

• Compile all the maintenance records of your vehicle.
• Have everything that comes with the car when you bring it to the dealership near Lumberton. Think mats, keys, and winter tires.

Trade in Your Car in Beaumont Today! 

We’ve answered, “Should I fix my car before trading in?” We invite you to contact us or call (409) 242-5796 to schedule a test drive with our team. We think there’s a new vehicle with your name on it! You could even save some cash with our new vehicle specials.