Should I Fix My Car Before Trading In?

Many Prairie du Chien drivers are considering trading in their vehicle, however, you might ask yourself “Should I fix my car before trading in?” Depending on which components you plan on repairing, there are various benefits to fixing some parts of your vehicle prior to trading in. Learn more about trading in your vehicle with the experts at Birdnow Dealerships. For more information, feel free to contact us anytime!

What To Fix When Trading in My Car

If you’re wondering “What to fix when trading in my car”, you should only make minor repairs. Let’s go over a few reasons not to make expensive repairs to your vehicle: 

• Large repairs are quite expensive and decrease the amount you would get from the trade-in.
• When trading in your vehicle to a dealership, they will have factory-trained technicians to deal with any underlying issues that may be costly. This is one of the main reasons dealerships are able to make any type of profit on trade-ins. 
• Some dealerships might not perform a thorough inspection of your vehicle, prior to providing an offer, therefore, any major issues will not be considered when providing you with their offer.

What to Fix Before Trading in My Car

So, now that we’ve let you know what you shouldn’t fix when trading in your vehicle, you might be wondering “What should I fix before trading in my car?” When trading in your vehicle at a Decorah dealership, you should only make minor repairs to increase the value of your vehicle. Let’s check out a few things to do before your appraisal:

• Clean your vehicle-cleaning your vehicle such as removing any personal items, throwing out any trash, and cleaning both the windows and carpets is recommended. 
• Wash the car- you should wash your vehicle to make it look more presentable. It’s important to remove any dirt or grime throughout the exterior. 
• Fix any scratches- repairing minor scratches can significantly increase the value of your vehicle.
• Wax your car- waxing and protecting your vehicle is important, as it will provide a showroom finish!
• Check headlamps- make sure all exterior lights are working properly, and replace if needed. 
• Check the fluids (brake & transmission), oil, radiator, and windshield-washer- ensuring all the fluids are up to date will tell the dealership that the vehicle is regularly maintained. 

Taking care of these minor repairs will make your vehicle more presentable to the dealership, and allow you to get more money for your trade-in. 

Any Other Tips Before Trading in My Car?

Other than repairing minor blemishes. There are a few things you can do that don’t cost a dime, and can potentially increase the value of your vehicle:

• Put together a detailed list of maintenance records.
• Make sure you have all keys, mats, and winter tires if you have them.

Learn More About Vehicle Trade-ins at Birdnow Dealerships Today! 

Now that we’ve answered the question “should I fix my car before trading in”, come visit us at %di_name%% to get top dollar for your trade. If you’re in the market for a new vehicle, come browse our selection of used cars for sale in northeast Iowa! To get an estimate on what your vehicle is worth, use our value your trade tool to find out in seconds!