How Do Dealers Value My Trade?

What’s My Car Worth?

Did you know you can find out how much your vehicle is worth at our dealership or from the comfort of your home? No matter which way you choose to do so, it’s simple.

At our Ford dealer, you will need to schedule an appraisal with us or discuss with one of our representatives that you have trade-in plans. Generally, our dealership values your vehicle through an appraisal, which is a comprehensive inspection. Afterwards, our appraiser may scan your vehicle’s VIN number to check its market value.

Before your official appraisal, you can conduct some research for yourself! You can use our Value Your Trade tool to calculate your vehicle’s worth. Be prepared to input your car’s year, make, model, and trim.

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How Do I Prepare My Vehicle for Trade In?

There are many ways that you can maximize your vehicle’s trade-in value, and it all starts in the preparation. A well-maintained vehicle will often receive a higher evaluation as opposed to a not-so-clean ride. To help you get the best offer possible, you can do the following…

Clean the Exterior

Your vehicle’s exterior is the first aspect the appraiser will see. With that being said, you should do the following to make it stand out:

• Wash the vehicle
• Scrub the wheel wells
• Clean the windows
• Have any cosmetic damages repaired

Refresh the Interior

A well-maintained interior will add lots of value to your vehicle. With that being said, you will want to clean the cabin as best as possible. You can focus on the following:

• Removing stains from the upholstery
• Vacuuming the floors and carpets
• Cleaning all inside windows and displays
• Wiping down all surfaces and door handles
• Removing personal belongings from the cabin and trunk

General Maintenance

A vehicle that operates well is a sure-fire way to get a high trade-in value. It’s important that your vehicle is up to date on its general maintenance. Plus, you should have all safety systems like driver assistance, tires, brakes, and steering checked up on, too.

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What Does the Car Appraiser Look For?

Our appraiser will check your vehicle thoroughly, from the hood to the trunk. First, they will do a walk around to check out the tires and any imperfections to the exterior. From there, they’ll take a peek under the hood and check fluids. They’ll do a quick look at the trunk space as well.

Once inside, our appraiser will check for any wear and tear to the cabin and that all features and infotainment work properly.

Towards the end, they will take your ride for a spin to test its drivetrain, handling, and overall operation.