Maybe one of the biggest decisions in the ownership of your car is figuring out “when should I trade the vehicle in?” Should I trade it after a specific number of years? Is there such a thing as too many miles? Does it have to be in mint condition? It probably should not be a shock to figure out there is not a simple answer. However, we’ve got a few tips and tricks to help you decide when to trade in your car.
This is generally the first question owners consider. Considering that most people believe that the only way to get top dollar for their pre-owned car is to sell it themselves instead of trading it for another car. Still, there are some things to consider when thinking about if you should trade-in your car or just sell it separately.
With only a few special circumstances, selling a vehicle can take several weeks or longer; particularly if your vehicle is in less-than-ideal condition. You would have to arrange every single part of the sale process, from posting an advertisement to scheduling test drives, to arguing the price, and everything in between. Conversely, trading in a car almost always happens when you get your new vehicle with little effort.
Usually the person selling the vehicle is responsible for getting the buyer the required paperwork, such as registration and the vehicle’s title. Trying to do everything yourself can often be a disheartening and even lengthy procedure if unexpected challenges are connected to the paperwork, like a lien. The dealer is ready to handle all of the paperwork, unexpected challenges included.
Perhaps the most notable benefit to trading in your vehicle is the possible tax benefit offered in places with a state sales tax. For these states, there is a financial credit applied to your new vehicle’s sales tax if you trade in a vehicle at the same location where they purchase the new vehicle. Simply, the taxes are applied to the price difference once the appraisal of the trade-in is factored into the new vehicle price. The tax savings can easily reach hundreds and even thousands of dollars.
There are plenty of opinions on this, especially with newer cars that are specifically designed to last a long time. However, there’s a general agreement of three mileage milestones to think about when trading your car in:
This is when nearly all new car warranties typically expire. Conversely, this is also when the first replacement and repairs of ‘wear-and-tear’ components, like tires or brakes, are generally done on cars. Your vehicle depreciation will usually start to increase faster at this point, so the nearer your vehicle is to these miles, the better your trade-in will be.
Depending on how much you drive, a car that reaches this mileage will typically be between 3 to 5 years old and most likely has been well maintained. As the miles pile up, the value of the vehicle gets lower so owners ought to think about this when weighing their trade-in.
Thanks in part to advancements in modern engineering, this milestone is no longer the automotive death notice that it was in the past. But, the more miles of your vehicle, the greater the depreciation. Cars within this milestone can still have value even if they aren’t in perfect condition. The looks and mechanical condition of your car are reviewed more closely as the miles increase on the odometer.
Finally, an important part of trading in the car is being prepared for the trade-in evaluation. These ideas are not an exhaustive list but they will help you get the most value out of your trade-in.
This ought to be a no-brainer, but some people believe showing the vehicle ‘as-is’ is a more honest approach to a trade-in appraisal. While we do not advocate hiding problems or blemishes (FYI, the assessors will see through those attempts anyway), it is not a bad idea to clean up your vehicle before bringing it in. This includes tossing all trash and debris from inside your vehicle (the trunk too), vacuuming and washing inside and outside, and maybe even doing a nice interior and exterior detailing. Just think of the evaluator as a potential buyer and tidy up the vehicle accordingly.
We realize that auto repairs can be overwhelming, especially for major mechanical concerns. But, if you can fix minor dings, defects in the paint, and cracks in the various windshield, mirrors, and windows, all of those cosmetic repairs will help improve the price of your trade-in. When possible, we advise repairing any mechanical issues the car may have. The nicer your car is, the more money you’ll get for your trade-in.
If you have decided trading in your car is the best decision, then we suggest coming to the dealership with all of your documentation, including the title (if you have it), registration, any repair logs you have, and all copies of the car’s keys. Show up ready to trade-in your vehicle and you will speed up the process of driving away in your new car.
Bob Howard Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram invites you to trade in your car, truck, SUV, or minivan in Oklahoma City, OK. No matter the day of the week, time of the month or year, we are happy to value your trade-in and get you into a new vehicle. Visit our dealership in person or give us a call to schedule an appointment.
When Is The Best Time To Trade In Your Car To Get The Most For It?
| Bob Howard Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram
Bad communication. I called every day to check on progress and could never get a call back
I brought my truck in for an oil change and filter change fuel filter changed. They never did the fuel filter change. The entire scenario ended up being a pretty big frustration. This is the second time it’s happened in the service department truck was purchased there along with another truck in the Bob Howard group also along with other cars I purchased from you guys. With
Quick, simple, friendly service writers and exceptional waiting area. In and out on time! Not place fir me!
Very clean, service always great. Chris was nice and took care of me and the car
I took my Jeep Grand Cherokee to bob Howard at the beginning of August. I did not get it back until mid September, it took over a month to complete the repairs. Also the communication was awful, for days at a time I heard nothing regarding the repairs. I’d call back to back with no answer after waiting days for an update on my cars repair progress. I also went to the dealership after hearing nothing to ask about the progress of my vehicle. Which didn’t help no one there could give us an update or answer until ... Read More Full review text opened.DealerRater - Sep 18, 2026
I took my Jeep Grand Cherokee to bob Howard at the beginning of August. I did not get it back until mid September, it took over a month to complete the repairs. Also the communication was awful, for days at a time I heard nothing regarding the repairs. I’d call back to back with no answer after waiting days for an update on my cars repair progress. I also went to the dealership after hearing nothing to ask about the progress of my vehicle. Which didn’t help no one there could give us an update or answer until our advisor got back to us days later. The manager was zero help and acted like he didn’t care and was rude. If you want you care repairs completed quick don’t take it here…
