Should I Clean My Car Before Trading In?

If you’re planning to get a new car, truck, or SUV, trading in your current vehicle is a great way to increase your down payment. You might be wondering if you need to clean your car before taking it to a dealership for a trade-in estimate. Keep reading to find out whether you should clean your car before a trade-in inspection and learn how to increase your car’s trade-in value.

Value Your Trade Trade Up Advantage

Should I Clean My Car Before Trading In?

You should clean your car inside and out before bringing it to a dealership to trade it in. While the car dealership’s staff will clean the car again before putting it up for sale, cleaning it before the inspection can increase the money you get for your trade. If your vehicle is already spotless, the dealership’s staff won’t have to spend as much time getting it sale-ready. Saving time saves them money, which the dealership might pass on to you.

How To Clean Your Car Before a Trade

Here are some steps you can take to restore your car and make it look brand-new:

1. Clean up clutter. Our cars collect receipts, wrappers, and other kinds of clutter. Start your cleaning by getting any trash out of your vehicle.
2. Remove the mats and clean them. Because we rest our feet on car mats, they tend to get dirtier than other parts of the car, but they’re also easy to clean after you take them out of the cab. Depending on how soiled they are, you can either wipe them down with a household cleaner or hose them down with water and dish soap.
3. Wipe the console, dashboard, and other surfaces. To remove dirt and oil from these surfaces, use isopropyl alcohol or an oil-based soap, like Castile soap, and a clean rag or paper towel.
4. Clean the inside of the windows. While the outside of your car is cleaned every time you take it to the car wash, the inside isn’t. Use a household glass cleaner and a paper towel to wipe fingerprints, smudges, and grime from each car window.
5. Clean the seats. If you have cloth seats, you can use a hand vacuum or lint roller to remove hair and crumbs. For leather seats, buy leather cleaning wipes from an auto parts store.
6. Vacuum the interior. Most gas stations have vacuums that you can use to remove dirt from the vehicle’s carpet. After vacuuming, replace the clean floor mats.
7. Finally, take your car for a car wash. Choose a wash with gentle brushes and consider a wax job as well.

Should I Get a Detail?

Usually, household cleaning products are enough to get your car trade-in ready. However, if you frequently transport pets or children in your vehicle, you might have more dander and grime in the car’s interior. Also, drivers who take their cars to the beach or off-roading might have more dirt or sand in the interior and exterior. In those cases, a professional detail job might be a good idea. Detailers use specialized equipment to remove dirt and restore materials.

Other Ways to Boost Your Car’s Trade-In Value

Along with cleaning, you can do a few key things to get more money for a vehicle during the trade-in process. Here are some ways to boost your car’s value:

• Keep track of the car’s accessories. Buying a car might come with a range of accessories, like branded floor mats, DVDs for the navigation system, or steering wheel covers. If you include the accessories with the car when you trade it in, you can get more money for your vehicle.
• Make sure you’re up to date on your maintenance. Getting your oil changes and tire rotations on time can boost the value of your trade by keeping key systems in pristine condition. Bring receipts from your last maintenance appointment to show you’ve taken care of the vehicle.
• Get small issues fixed. Minor paint dings or leaky gaskets can reduce the money you get for your trade. Fixing minor issues yourself can pay off during the pre-trade inspection.

Tips for Trading in Your Vehicle

Here are some strategies that can make your trade-in experience easy and profitable:

• Research your trade value. While many factors can affect trade value, like maintenance history and overall condition, you can estimate your car’s value using a tool like the Accu-Trade evaluator at Huffines Subaru Corinth. Knowing how much you might get for your car can help you budget as you look at new vehicles.
• Note significant issues. While a transmission issue might lower the value of your car, you can still trade in a vehicle that needs larger repairs. Explain the problems to the trade-in inspection technician and dealership representative to ensure you’re being transparent during the deal.
• Bring all your documentation to every trade-in inspection. If your car is clean and in excellent condition, you might get an immediate offer for a trade-in. If you have your title and registration, you can get instant cash and start shopping for a new car immediately.
• Research special programs. You might have access to special deals or promotions if you drive a specific car make or model. At Huffines Subaru Corinth, Subaru drivers are eligible for the Trade Up Advantage Program, which provides discounts on buying a new Subaru after you trade your old one to us.

Cleaning your car before trading is a small investment that can yield high value. Here at Huffines Subaru Corinth, we’re passionate about getting our customers the best value for their trade so they can get behind the wheel of a new Subaru or quality used vehicle fast. Please stop by our lot or contact us to learn about our trade-in programs and financing options.