Saying goodbye is never easy, even when you’re just saying goodbye to a car! After all, you and your car have been through a lot together; road trips, memories with friends and family, commuting, etc.

When the time finally comes to upgrade, you should ask yourself the following questions:

  • What is my car worth?
  • What can I do to make my car worth more?

At Dallas Lease Returns, we want to make sure you get the maximum possible for your vehicle. Below are five factors that can affect your trade-in value, and things you can do to make your vehicle worth more.

Mileage and Mechanical Upkeep

Simply put, mileage matters. If your vehicle has more than 100,000 miles on it, that is a red flag for potential buyers. Even if your car has been dependable over 150,000 miles with relatively few problems, resale value is going to take a huge hit.

Regular maintenance is crucial, not only to provide reliability, but to increase resale value in the future. Follow your manufacturers’ recommended maintenance schedule, including oil and filter changes. Be sure to keep all maintenance records, no matter how minor, and have them handy when you are ready to trade-in your vehicle.

The Interior Condition

Does your car smell like smoke or is just dirty and grimy? If so, your trade-in value could be significantly affected. People want to buy cars that have been taken care of properly. While a dealership like Dallas Lease Returns may overlook a spot here or a spot there, a filthy, smelly car is going to give you less trade-in value overall. This is because it takes more time and money for a dealership to clean a dirty car.

Before trading-in your vehicle, make an effort to restore the interior of your vehicle to appear as like-new as possible. At Dallas Lease Returns, we suggest getting it detailed beforehand to maximize your trade-in value.

The Exterior Condition

A ding or dent may not seem like a big deal to you, but appraisers have to be picky; a dealership has to make a profit off your vehicle, and no one wants to buy a banged up car. Used vehicles are usually graded by appraisers on a four-point scale, with categories of Excellent, Good, Fair or Poor condition.

Just one or two small dents, dings, paint scratches or chips can be the difference between “Fair” or even “Good” or “Poor.’ It’s best to park in a garage out of the elements whenever possible, especially here in Dallas where our infamous hailstorms have been known to damage vehicles.

Before trading in your vehicle, have it washed and take care of all dings and dents, as well as any other exterior deficiencies which can diminish trade-in value.

Why Choose Dallas Lease Returns

At Dallas Lease Returns, we want to help you get the most for your vehicle! We take trade-ins and offer a large inventory of gently used, luxury vehicles should you want to upgrade. Click here to schedule a free appraisal today!