New Year -New Car, 5 Top Tips from the Trade to get the best price for your part exchange
So one of your New Year resolutions is to upgrade your car, that’s great,but you want to trade-in your old car! As you likely experienced last time you part exchanged your car, the variation in prices can be extreme so how do you get the best price for your current car as part-ex and more importantly know that you have got the best deal? Here’s 5 Trade Top Tips to get the best price for your current car. As an owner of an Independent Used Car Dealership, I’m going to share with you the Top 5 things that will help you get the best price for your car
So hopefully these 5 Trade Top Tips will help you get a better price for your part exchange. But remember, compare the deal you have been offered. The fact that you have received £500 more your trade-in but against a Used car that is £1000 more expensive than comparable cars for sale elsewhere does not mean you are getting a better deal, FACT!
So one of your New Year resolutions is to upgrade your car, that’s great,but you want to trade-in your old car! As you likely experienced last time you part exchanged your car, the variation in prices can be extreme so how do you get the best price for your current car as part-ex and more importantly know that you have got the best deal? Here’s 5 Trade Top Tips to get the best price for your current car. As an owner of an Independent Used Car Dealership, I’m going to share with you the Top 5 things that will help you get the best price for your car
- Full Service History- Often called FSH in adverts, if your car has a full documented service history with a stamped up service book and even better still with a bunch of receipts you will get more for your car and thats a FACT. Don’t be too bothered about it being a Franchise Service History as this will only help when you own a high end Prestige or Performance car like a Porsche, but barring these exceptions a Used Car Dealer are as happy with a stamped up service book from a reputable Independent Service Centre.
- Clean Your Car- Maybe this is a little obvious but it still amazes me the amount of prospects who roll up in their car at our Dealership with their car, caked in road film & mud and the interior looks like someone has been living in it for a month or two! It will take you about 4 or 5 hours (if your car is really filthy) for you to take it back to a clean car and add hundreds of ££’s on to the value of it. A Dealer’s view on a filthy car…..the customer doesn’t care about their car, so less likely to upkeep general maintenance. Also they can’t see the paintwork properly so will knock down the part-ex price on the basis they can’t see what paintwork is required, also valeting costs money and time, so the filthier it is the cheaper it will have to be!
- MOT- I can never understand the customer who want’s to part exchange their car because their MOT is due, because it will save them money. If you trade your car in with less than 2 months valid MOT on your car you will get LESS money for your car and thats a FACT. Why? The Dealer thinks you are trading in your car because you know something he doesn’t. It’s like an admission of knowing there is some big repairs required for your car to pass it’s MOT. If the Dealer is going to retail your car again, by buying your car he is also buying the additional costs of MOT repairs, so instead of saving money by not having a fresh MOT you are through away money because neither you or the Dealer knows what it will cost to go through it’s MOT.
- Age & Mileage- To get the very best price for your part-exchange the Dealer really has to see your car as a profit opportunity. If he can sell you a car and take back your car to fill the space in his yard, then he will give you more money than he would if has to ‘auction’ it, because it falls out with his ‘retail’ guidelines, FACT! These guideline are normally set out by the Warranty Company they deal with and have mileage and age restrictions .So to make it simple, if your car is a Top car and can be sold on as a retail car with the Top warranty you will get more money as part exchange! The Dealer cannot ask the same value for a car with a lesser warranty hence he will offer you less for your part -ex. To help you, check out the dealers website to see what his used car warranties guidelines are to understand this better.
- Be Honest- Now as you can see this more about you than the car. What I mean is, if you have a problem with your current car that maybe isn’t noticeable to the Dealer straight away, tell them! "Why, I hear you ask, surely that will knock down the price for my part exchange?" Well, yes it most likely WILL, however it will build rapport & trust with the Dealer, ensuring you a better deal overall and maybe gaining you some little extras like extra warranty etc thrown in. But the main thing it does is help break down barriers, not only at the point of sale but more importantly during ownership. If you have a problem with the car you bought from the Dealer that you part exchanged your car with the dodgy gearbox without telling them, how difficult is this meeting going to be? FACT! Be honest and you will be treated with the utmost respect, after all we are ALL human beings!
So hopefully these 5 Trade Top Tips will help you get a better price for your part exchange. But remember, compare the deal you have been offered. The fact that you have received £500 more your trade-in but against a Used car that is £1000 more expensive than comparable cars for sale elsewhere does not mean you are getting a better deal, FACT!