When you're ready to upgrade to a new vehicle, you may want to use your current car's value toward the purchase of a new one. You have the option to sell your car privately or trade in your vehicle at a dealership, which will pay you your car's value. Trading in your vehicle at a dealership can be a fast, simple, and convenient way to help you pay for a new car. The following are six benefits of trading in your vehicle at a dealership.

Tax Advantages

Accounting by 401(K) 2012 is licensed with CC BY-SA 2.0

Trading in your current vehicle at a dealership can have significant tax advantages. In Massachusetts, you can deduct the value of your trade-in vehicle from the sales price of a new vehicle. This means you'll pay only sales tax on the difference between the two vehicles rather than the new car's full price. This tax advantage can help you save hundreds or even thousands of dollars, which is helpful when you're on a budget. If you sell the car yourself, you're not allowed to reduce the taxable sales price, which means you'll pay more in taxes.

No Extra Costs

When selling a car privately, most potential buyers will expect the vehicle to be clean without obvious stains or blemishes. For most people, that means paying for interior or exterior detailing services to make the car presentable for buyers. You may also make minor repairs to your vehicle, such as fixing a cracked windshield or touching up exterior paint. These services can cost hundreds of dollars before even attempting to sell the car.

You don't have to pay these extra costs when you trade in your vehicle at a dealership. Dealerships don't expect your car to be perfect, and they already plan to clean and detail the car before they put it on the lot. By trading in your vehicle at a dealership, you can save the money you would spend on detailing and repairs and put it toward a down payment on your next vehicle instead.

Quicker Process

If you want to sell your car yourself, expect to put in some time and effort. To sell, you'll have to prepare your car, advertise the vehicle, and make appointments with potential buyers. Some people may be no-shows, which is wasted time on your part. Once you have a buyer, you'll have to negotiate the price, arrange the payment, and prepare the title. It can be an overwhelming and time-consuming process, especially if you've never sold a car privately before.

When you trade in your vehicle at a dealership, it's typically a quick and simple process. The dealership will give you an offer, and you can usually receive your trade-in value immediately. You can take the payment or put it toward a down payment for a new car. You'll save time — and probably some stress — by trading in your vehicle at a dealership.

More Financing Options

If you're still making loan payments on your current vehicle, selling it through a private sale can be more challenging. Typically, lenders keep the vehicle's title as long as they still owe money on the car. Unless you can pay off the loan in full, you won't have the title, which can discourage potential buyers from purchasing the car. If you choose to pay off the vehicle before selling it, you'll spend more time and money to do so.

When you trade in your car at a dealership, however, financing experts can work with you to pay off or consolidate your loan. Typically, dealerships will put the car's trade-in value toward your loan. If this amount doesn't cover the remaining balance, they can consolidate the loan by combining the outstanding balance with the amount you'll owe on a new car. At North End Subaru, we have experience working with buyers who still owe payments on their current vehicles. We're committed to helping you find an affordable financing plan to pay off your loan and get into a new car.

Safer Transaction

There are risks involved with selling your car through a private transaction. You'll be meeting with strangers at your home or another location, which may make you feel worried or unsafe. It's also possible to become a victim of a scam when you sell your car privately. Untrustworthy buyers may use counterfeit bills or forged checks to pay for the car. If you accept a wire transfer or PayPal payment, potential thieves could cancel the transaction once they get the vehicle.

If you trade in your vehicle at a dealership, you don't have to worry about these concerns. You can trade in your vehicle safely and know that you'll receive the agreed-upon price for your car. Dealerships rely on their reputations and word-of-mouth advertising to attract new customers, so they'll work hard to keep and earn your business through honesty and transparency. At North End Subaru, we're proud of the many five-star reviews we've earned from our customers, and we encourage you to ask questions if you have any concerns about the trade-in process.

Fair Price

When you trade in your vehicle at a dealership, you can feel confident you're getting a fair price based on the car's condition and the demand for your vehicle on the market. However, if you choose to sell your car privately, the price for the vehicle may depend on when you sell it, which can fluctuate based on how many similar vehicles are on the market. While you may get the best price during high demand, it's not always guaranteed. Rest assured that you'll always get a fair price by trading in your vehicle at a dealership.

Get the Best Price for Your Trade-In in Lunenburg, Massachusetts

Trading in your vehicle at a dealership can help you save time and money, among other benefits. When you're ready to trade in your current vehicle, our friendly team at North End Subaru can help. You can even use our simple online estimator before you visit to learn the value of your trade-in. It takes only a few minutes to complete. You can put the value of your current vehicle toward the purchase of a new or quality pre-owned car, truck, or SUV. Stop by our dealership or contact us to get started on your vehicle purchase today.

Categories: Car Tips