Should I Fix My Car Before Trading In?

If your North Ridgeville drives could use a new vehicle, you may be wondering, “Should I fix my car before trading in? How do I fix my car before trade-in?” The service team at Spitzer Volkswagen recommends that you only work on minor damage to help boost the trade-in value of your vehicle. Otherwise, any major damage should be left alone. Learn more about the shoulds and shouldn’ts below! 

Fix My Car Before Trade: What Not To Fix

If your vehicle has any damage that requires a major repair, we highly suggest that you leave those alone. Why? That’s because… 

• Major repairs are costly, which will lower your profit from your trade-in near Elyria. 
• Dealerships have the expertise and tools to easily fix major issues at a less expensive price point than you will spend out of pocket. This is how dealerships make a profit from buying and reselling used cars!
• Depending on the dealership you go to, they might not do a detailed inspection of your car before finalizing the trade-in, so they might not deduct the cost of these repairs from your trade-in value. 

Fix My Car Before Trade: What to Fix 

While major issues should be left alone, is there anything that you should fix? The best way to answer “Should I fix my car before trading in?” is to figure out if you have the skills, experience, and confidence to resolve the problem your vehicle has. For example, some drivers may find fixing minor scratches to be a piece of pie, but if you haven’t done it successfully before, it’s best to leave them alone. That’s because if you try to fix something minor and the fix isn’t done properly, the dealership might notice and subtract that from your offer. 

That’s not to say you shouldn’t do anything before you bring your vehicle to a dealership near Avon for the trade-in process. You can make your vehicle presentable and give the best first impression possible by cleaning the inside and the exterior! 

Here is a short list of things you can do before bringing your car over for a trade-in estimate: 

• Clean out the inside, which includes disposing of any garbage, taking out any personal items, and cleaning the windows & carpets 
• Wash the car whether you decide to do it yourself or go to a professional
• Fix any minor scratches 
• Wax your car for a shiny finish 
• Check headlamps to make sure they’re working properly and replace them if needed
• Check the fluids (brake & transmission), oil, radiator, and windshield washer

What Else Can I Do Before Trading In My Car?

If you’re looking for other ways to boost your vehicle’s trade-in value, you should do the following: 

• Complete or at least recent maintenance records neatly put together
• Have everything that came with the car when you show up at the dealership, including the mats, keys, and winter tires

Trade In Your Car at Spitzer Volkswagen Today! 

Apply what you’ve learned from this guide to your trade-in experience at Spitzer Volkswagen! Whether you’re interested in one of our new VWs or used cars in Amherst, you’ll enjoy a quick experience and a fair trade-in offer.