There is only one way to cure the new car itch… clean your car and go to the dealership for a trade-in appraisal.
One of the worst things you can do is look for a new car on a whim without any planning. Never do that. What if there is an amazing sale you can pass up once you get there? or the dealership offers a warranty package you can’t turn down? How will you say…. “Um, wait, I need to prepare my car for trade-in inspection and then come back”?
My sister-in-law made this mistake during her last new car purchase. She had recently purchased new tires for her car and didn’t want to let her new tires go with her trade. While the salesman assured her that her husband could come later in the week to switch the tires out, when he arrived to do so, it wasn’t there. The dealership wasn’t made aware of their agreement and had already relocated the vehicle. The moral of that story:
Prep your vehicle for trade-in before you go to the dealership!
On top of the standard trade-in preparations and research, make sure you remove any after-market improvements that you do not plan on letting go with your vehicle. This includes radios, backup cameras, seat covers and accessories.
To learn more, please visit our guest article, 8 Tips for Preparing Your Car for Trade, at McLoughlin Chrysler Jeep.
