How to Trade-In a Car

One of the benefits of trade-ins is that you can get offers on your car without having to become a private party seller. So, if you’re ready to buy a used or new car, you may be wondering, “How can I get the best offer on my trade-in car?” Jaguar Newport Beach has you covered with a short list of trade-in tips! Follow the steps below to improve your chances of getting the best possible trade-in offers near Irvine, and get more car-buying tips on things like gap insurance and beyond!

Get Your Trade-In Car’s Value

Before you can select an offer, you need to know what your car is worth. To make life easier for Costa Mesa drivers, Jaguar Newport Beach offers a handy value your trade-in tool. Submit your car’s year, make, and model, along with your name, email, and phone number. You’ll receive a report that details the local market supply, popularity, and estimated value of your car. If you want to do more research, there are other tools available like Kelley Blue Book® Value and Edmunds True Market Value®.

Get an Appraisal

The next step is getting your vehicle appraised. You can make an appointment at CarMax and/or with Jaguar Newport Beach. There are 25 CarMax locations throughout California. If you live in Newport Beach, you can find a CarMax in both Irvine and Costa Mesa. CarMax will complete a detailed car inspection that’s valid for a week.

When you schedule an appraisal with us, we’ll examine the car’s condition, and consider our used inventory and whether we can sell the car. If you visit a CarMax, and then schedule a follow-up appointment with us, be sure to bring your CarMax appraisal (as well as other trade-in offers) for our reference.

Negotiate or Accept a Trade-In Offer

After appraisals are complete, you can choose to negotiate, or accept the terms and close the deal. Choosing the highest offer may seem obvious, but there are a few trade-in tips to keep in mind:

• You can’t negotiate with CarMax. Once they give you a trade-in amount, it can’t be increased. There’s usually some room to negotiate at a dealership.
• If you’re upside down on your auto loans and wish to consolidate what you owe with the price of your new car, you’ll have better luck at a dealership. CarMax will expect the difference between what’s owed on your car loan and the car’s worth.

Once you make a decision, you can finalize your trade-in for cash, or put the car’s value toward buying a new car.

Learn More About Car Trade-Ins at Jaguar Newport Beach!

If you have questions about trade-in cars or how to trade in a financed car, or if you wish to schedule an appraisal, contact us! Our sales and finance team is available seven days a week, and we’re conveniently located near Orange and Anaheim Hills. While you’re here, ask about our certified pre-owned inventory and used car deals under $25K.

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