How to Trade in a Car

It can be tricky, frustrating, and time-consuming to sell a car yourself, but you can make things easier on yourself and usually enjoy a more rewarding final result by trading up. With that in mind, you should learn exactly how to trade in a car, which is why we’ve put together this quick and easy guide when you want to trade in your current vehicle for a new or pre-owned Mercedes-Benz in Cincinnati.

How to Trade in a Car: A Step by Step Guide

Learning how to trade in your car really involves nothing more than these three steps:

• Get an estimate of the vehicle’s trade-in value.
• Consult an expert for an in-person appraisal.
• Negotiate and accept a final offer.

You’ll then be free to sign any remaining paperwork and drive back across Blue Ash or Montgomery in a fresh new vehicle, a pre-owned model, or even a certified pre-owned that you love. Read on to find out how those steps break down.

Get an Estimate of the Vehicle’s Trade-In Value

It’s worth shopping around before getting an in-person appraisal, so use tools like:

• Kelley Blue Book® Value
• Edmunds True Market Value®
• Our Trade-In Value Estimator

You’ll enter details like your vehicle’s make, model, and year, plus its condition and maintenance history.

Consult an Expert for an In-Person Appraisal

This is often the scariest part of the process, but it’s not something you really need to worry about. It’s best to visit an established dealership instead of the first lot you see across Sharonville, so make sure you find someone you feel comfortable with.

It’s not uncommon for the in-person appraisal to come in lower than the number you found online, but you can minimize the difference by being as honest as possible during the estimation process.

Negotiate and Accept a Final Offer

The final lesson in how to trade in your car is negotiating and accepting a final offer. If you don’t feel you’re being offered what the vehicle is worth, now is when you can leverage the research you did during step one. You can also get multiple appraisals and leverage them to your advantage.

Choose to accept the offer and you can put that money towards your next vehicle or even enjoy the option to walk out with cash in hand.

Visit Our Mercedes-Benz of Cincinnati for Any Further Questions on How to Trade in Your Car

Whether you’re looking for help with buying or selling, the team here at Mercedes-Benz of Cincinnati can be of assistance. It only takes a few minutes to get a price offer on your vehicle. To schedule an appointment contact Chris Schneidtmiller at (502) 894-6815 or schedule an appointment online using the form below!