Should I Fix My Car Before Trading In?

Planning to trade in your vehicle for something new? Before you do, you might wonder, “Should I fix my car before trading in?” It depends on the extent of repairs your vehicle requires. Generally, expensive repairs are not recommended before trading in your vehicle, while minor fixes like interior detailing and paint touch-ups can be inexpensive ways to add value to your trade. Read our guide below for more insight into what types of repairs are and aren’t recommended before trading in a vehicle! 

Fix My Car Before Trade: Not Worth Fixing

If your vehicle has seen better days on the roads of Virginia Beach and Chesapeake and major repairs are needed, it’s better for your budget if you don’t complete those repairs before trading in. You might think it will increase your trade-in value, but it’s not likely that you’ll earn all that money back on your trade-in offer. Also worth considering: 

• Major repairs tend to be expensive, and there’s no guarantee that you’ll get all the money back from your trade-in. 
• A dealership’s service center has all of the tools and expertise required to fix your vehicle’s problems, and it will be done at a much lower cost to the dealership than it would be out of your own pocket. Using OEM components and state-of-the-art tools is how dealerships recondition vehicles at a high-quality level to turn a profit. 

Fix My Car Before Trade: Worth Fixing

When you’re asking “Should I fix my car before trading in?”, you should say “no” to the larger repairs. But, what about the smaller fixes? Increasing your vehicle’s curb appeal and taking care of low-cost maintenance items like oil changes and wiper fluid replacement can be worth your time and the minimal investment involved, even if only to make your car more worthy of consideration in the first place. Here are some examples of the minor fixes that can help you get the best trade-in value for your car, without wasting money:

• Tidy up the cabin: Remove all traces of previous ownership, like garbage, personal items, decorations, non-OEM accessories, etc., then clean the windows and carpets. 
• Clean the upholstery: You can spot-clean the upholstery yourself or take your car in for a professional detailing service, but the main goal should be to get rid of things like pet hair and dust, as well as any marks or stains.
• Paint touch-up: If you have a touch-up bottle of the OEM paint color on your car’s exterior, use it to touch up the exterior paint where there are scratches or blemishes.
• Wash and wax the exterior: A thorough wash and wax will make your car shine like new, giving it more curb appeal than dirty, dull paint.
• Replace bulbs: Check all exterior lights and replace any burnt-out bulbs.
• Check fluids: Finally, check your fluid levels. Top off the wiper fluid reservoir and get up to date on oil changes to help bolster your maintenance record.

In short, a vehicle that appears to have been well cared for will likely stand out on its own merit when you bring it to a dealership! You should never spend more than you can afford to fix up your trade-in vehicle, as most updates are going to be taken care of by the dealership and factored into their offer anyhow.

Get a Higher Trade-In Value at Rick Hendrick Chevrolet Norfolk

Rick Hendrick Chevrolet Norfolk is always looking for quality additions to our used vehicle inventory, and we pride ourselves on making top market trade-in offers near Suffolk! Visit us to get your trade-in value today, or read more car-buying tips if you’re still exploring your options.