1. Wait to mention the trade in
Dealers are known to “play with the numbers” to try and cover the cost for a trade in so it is in your best interest to not mention that you are trading in a vehicle until after the price is finalized then say “hey how much can you reduce the price if I trade in my vehicle?”
2. Thoroughly Clean the Vehicle and remove dents or dings
Little things like dents, scratches, and mess are all things the dealer will use to calculate the amount of work they are going to have to put into it to make it re-sellable so make sure you bring your ride in there in as good of a condition as possible.
3. Shop Around
Don’t go to the dealership you want right away and instead explore other dealers with the same vehicle you are interested in purchasing and ask them what they would take for your vehicle trade-in then you have a number to compare values to and can tell if a dealer isn’t paying enough for your trade-in.
4. Understand the Dealer
A car dealer is trying to make money, so in the case where you feel like you’re still not getting the best deal you must remember that you are purchasing from a business and their purpose is to create a profit so if you feel like they’re not giving you enough try and sell the vehicle privately, you do not have to trade your vehicle in to the dealership if you don’t want to.