The Magic Blog

You’ve finally decided that you’re in the market for a new car, but what are you going to do with your current daily driver when your new pride and joy comes home? You certainly don’t want your former love sitting around gathering bird-droppings and racking up another year of rego to pay before you get around to listing it for sale. One option is to negotiate a trade-in with the dealer when your eyeing off the latest, greatest model. It’s true that you’re probably going to get less return on a trade-in than selling privately, but you are able to avoid what can be a painful and time-consuming process of dealing with tyre-kickers and no-shows. If you’re thinking about negotiating a trade-in then these tips will help you on your way with your friendly New Car Salesman.

1. KNOW YOUR WORTH

This might seem obvious, but make sure you check out current online listings of cars with similar specifications to yours. When you’re estimating the value of your car peruse the other listings and take into consideration the year of manufacture, the odometer reading, regular servicing and any features or modifications to help you value your own vehicle fairly. Kilometers on the clock, or lack thereof, can make a big difference to the value of your vehicle as can the condition of the duco and whether or not the car has been in any accidents in its lifetime. You’re unlikely to get the full resale value of the vehicle in a negotiation with a dealer, but starting at a fair price will put you in the best position to come out with a good deal.

• MAKE SURE YOU’RE SAFE:

Once you know how much your car is worth, it’s a good idea to get a Roadworthy Certification done. The dealer will be less interested in purchasing your vehicle, or paying your asking price, if they have to make repairs to it before they can sell it again. At a minimum, you should check the windscreen for chips and the ensure that the tyres have sufficient tread as these will be areas that are inspected visually during the negotiation.

• SHOW YOUR SHINE

Before you make your way to the showroom, you need to get that baby looking its best. If you’ve regularly maintained your car throughout your driving relationship then a thorough clean inside and out, along with a hand wax & polish and perfectly shined tyres might do the trick. If the love has been lacking, or if your duco is in need of revival, you should also consider a cut & polish and paint cleansing treatment to restore the paint to its former glory and bring out that shine. A small investment in presenting your car in the best light could have a big impact in your negotiations and get you the best trade-in price possible.

For all your car detailing needs see Magic Hand Carwash.

 

 

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