Factors that Affect Your Vehicle’s Trade-In Value

Find your next vehicle at Cox Chevrolet in Bradenton.

Drivers who are shopping for used cars in Bradenton often stress over how their current vehicle’s trade-in value is calculated. The price you get for your trade-in may drastically change what kind of used car you can consider buying. Some of the factors that go into trade-in value will be out of your control, but fortunately, there are several aspects of your car you can keep in mind to improve its value before trading-in.

Factors You Can’t Control

• Brand — Some brands depreciate faster than other brands, especially more exotic vehicles. ALG ranks vehicles for their best residual value, by three-year and five-year forecasts.
• Transmission — Even though you might prefer a manual transmission, many used car buyers prefer automatic. The only time when the reverse can be true is with high performance sports cars.
• Color — Custom paint jobs could make it nearly impossible to sell your vehicle. However, if your car is white, silver, or black, your car will sell more easily.
• Performance Add-ons — Making your vehicle run in a more performance-oriented manner will increase the wear-and-tear on your car. Increasing wear and tear will decrease the value.

Factors You Can Control

• Exterior Condition — Getting regular car washes now can definitely preserve the value later. If you have exterior paint blemishes, it’s worthwhile to get a paint job. Also, don’t forget to remove all of your bumper stickers.
• Interior Condition — Buyers will always prefer a clean car over an interior with stains and rips in the seats. Getting it detailed before you trade it in will help with those stains, but if they never happen in the first place, your car will have a much higher value.
• Mileage — Fewer miles will definitely ensure a higher resale value for your vehicle. If you need to take any long drives, consider taking another vehicle with fewer miles.
• Mechanical Upkeep — If you’re the kind of person that ignores the check engine light, it’s time to get your car fixed. The longer you drive your car when it needs maintenance, the higher the repair bill will be. Alternatively, if you save all of your service records, this will increase the resale value, because you’re taking the guesswork out of the car’s condition.

Trade-In For a New-to-You Car

Bring your car down to Cox Chevy and trade it in for any of our high-quality used cars. With hundreds of vehicles to choose from, you’re sure to find one that’s perfect for you. We’re located at 2900 Cortez Road West, Bradenton, FL — come visit us today!