Should I Fix My Car Before Trading In?

If you’re thinking of upgrading to something new or new-to-you in Anaheim, you might be asking yourself, “Should I fix my car before trading in?” There’s no right or wrong answer to this question; it depends on your personal situation. Fixing your car before trading it in is advisable when the issues are minor like scratches or dents, but you might want to leave the larger repairs to us.

Learn more about whether or not to fix your car before a trade with the team at Weir Canyon Acura. Our courteous salespeople are here to make the process of upgrading near Montclair simple!

Fix My Car Before Trade: What Not To Fix

If there’s any major repairs in your current Costa Mesa ride, Weir Canyon Acura advises you not to fix them before trading in for three reasons: 

• Major repairs will be expensive, which will lower how much you will actually get from the trade-in.
• Dealerships have the expertise and tools to easily fix major issues at a way lower cost than you will spend out of pocket. This is how dealerships are able to make 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 price. 

Fix My Car Before Trade: What to Fix 

Now that you know what not to fix, what can you fix in your Tustin ride and is it worth the trouble? While you can fix minor things to at least make your car presentable in hopes to maintain or increase the trade-in value, dealerships can deduct the value for money they will spend for reconditioning just in case there are major issues that aren’t apparent. Take a look at this non-exhaustive list of things you can do to spice up your car’s appearance before taking it in for a trade-in:

• Clean out the inside- dispose of any garbage, take out personal items, and clean the windows & carpets 
• Wash the car- whether you decide to do it yourself or go to a professional, you should wash the car to get rid of any marks and stains 
• Fix any scratches- if they’re minor, you can try to fix car paint scratches at home. 
• Wax your car- after washing your car, you can wax it to give a shiny finish 
• Check headlamps- make sure they’re working properly and replace them if needed
• Check the fluids (brake & transmission), oil, radiator, and windshield-washer- make sure they’re up to date, so the dealer will know you’ve been keeping up with basic maintenance 

If you do the minimum to make a good first impression for your car, the dealership you’re working with might notice and be prompted to think that this car has been well taken care of. While this is obviously a plus for you, you also need to be realistic and consider if you are capable of doing DIY minor repairs. If you fix something minor and the fix isn’t done properly, the professionals at dealerships will likely notice and subtract that from your trade-in price. 

What Else Can I Do Before Trading In My Car?

While fixing your car before a trade-in might be a double-edged sword, there are some cost-free steps you can take aside from fixing your car to show the dealership that your car has been taken of properly:

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

Trade Up to Something New at Weir Canyon Acura! 

Here in Anaheim, you’ve got a team of experts ready to help you move up to bigger and better things. We’ve answered the question, “Is it better to fix your car before trading it in?” However, if you still have unresolved questions, our team can answer them all. You deserve to trade in your old vehicle with confidence. Contact us to get the answers you seek or apply for financing to get pre-approved for a loan for your next vehicle.