By Justin Fischer
Getting top dollar for your trade-in requires preparation and strategy. A seven-year-old vehicle traded in during 2025 had an average value of $14,400, a 72% increase from 2019, when they were valued at $8,400, according to recent data reported by the Associated Press. That’s usually great news for sellers, but there’s a catch. Despite rising used-car values, many drivers still get less than expected when trading in. The gap between projected and actual resale values is widening as new and used car prices converge. Without knowledge and preparation, you’re likely to leave money on the table. Prepared, informed buyers get the best deals.
Many drivers aren’t aware that some parts of a car trade-in contract are negotiable, primarily because dealers present the agreement as a package. Here are some easy steps to aptly negotiate your car’s trade in value.
- Treat Your Trade-In as a Separate Transaction. The number one rule for getting the most for your trade-in is to always treat it as a separate transaction. Salespeople often do their best to tie your trade-in to your purchase, but that’s a recipe for a low-ball offer. It gives them more chances to profit at your expense.
- Know Your Car’s True Market Value. In most cases, the appraisal of your trade-in value isn’t the final offer. Before you arrive at the dealership, get several online offers and values for your car, so you know what it should be worth. Be honest with yourself about the condition of your car when getting these values. Getting online offers from companies like CarEdge’s, CarFax and Carvana provides a true assessment of your vehicle’s trade-in value and leverage against dealer offers.
- Compare Offers From Three Dealers. Go one step further and get trade-in offers in writing from at least two dealerships, ideally three or more. They’ll need to see your vehicle in person to do this, but it’s worth the hassle. You’re likely to get hundreds of dollars more (or thousands, in some cases) by not skipping this step.
Have service records on hand to help your trade-in value and get your car detailed. No need to spend hundreds of dollars, but a good interior/exterior cleaning can help.
- Don’t Settle for Their First Offer. It can be shocking to see how effective the following questions are at getting more for your trade-in: “Is that your best offer? Do you mind checking the numbers again? I believe it’s worth more than that.” In many cases, they’ll “check with their manager” and come back with a better offer.
- Note Any of Your Vehicle’s “Extras”. Knowing what your vehicle offers is crucial when negotiating trade-in offers, as its specific trim level may raise its value. The original window sticker can help you identify these features. Anything that’s not standard equipment is fair game. Did you get work done recently? Noting new parts and repairs can increase offers for any trim level.
How to Time Your Trade-in Like a Pro. While 2026 is set to offer higher average trade-in offers, some periods are better for maximizing value. Edmunds says Q1 and Q2 are the best times, as used car values tend to trend higher. Also, since a car loses value the longer it’s in your driveway, Q1 and Q2 are better compared to the end of the year when it’s about to become another model year older.
SUV? AWD? Sports Car? Time Your Trade-In Right. What kind of vehicle are you trading in? If you’re trading in an all-wheel drive SUV, winter can be an opportune time to get top dollar. Are your tire treads getting low? If so, icy winter months aren’t the best time to sell.
The Truth About Mileage During Trade-Ins. Mileage is obviously important when trading in a vehicle. Luckily, there’s no major drop-off after certain milestones, as long as it has been well-kept, which is why service records are helpful. Model years actually matter more: A five year-old car with just 30,000 miles is likely going to be worth less than a two-year-old car with 50,000 miles.
Pro Tip: Consider the Tariff Factor. Where a vehicle was built used to be a non-factor. However, a car’s manufacturing location can now play a significant role in resale value due to tariffs. Depending on the country, automakers exporting vehicles to the U.S. face tariff rates ranging from 10% to 27.5%, increasing dealer replacement costs for impacted new models. When these prices increase, dealers have more incentive to lean on already-imported used models, giving you added leverage if you have an imported brand with limited U.S. production.
If you follow the news in 2026, you know that the tariff situation seems to change weekly. Even so, sharing this bit of information can still give you more negotiation power, as it shows you’re an informed buyer (and seller).
Source: CarEdge
Justin Fischer is an automotive retail analyst with CarEdge, a consumer platform dedicated to empowering car shoppers to make confident, informed and financially savvy decisions.
