2010 NASCAR Illustrated Automotive Issue

Car Smarts : What You Need to Know Before Trading, Selling or Purchasing Your Next Vehicle

Car Smarts

Clean your car unless you are trading it in. Clean vehicles are worth more to private buyers; the dealer will take care of it if you trade in.
Keep thorough maintenance records. That will increase you car’s value to both private purchasers and dealers.
Do your homework. Look on Autotrader.com or Cars.com to see what similar cars are selling for. Then check out kbb.com (Kelley Blue Book) and Edmunds.com to see what dealers are paying.
Get a service history. Ask for a service history to make sure there are no outstanding recalls and that it hasn’t had any extraordinary repairs. Also, invest in a Carfax.com or Autocheck.com report. It will tell you if the car has had frame damage, repossession or any other problem.
Take an extended test drive. Even the car of your dreams may not fit you or your driving style. Consider renting a similar vehicle for a weekend to see if it works for you.
Do not buy add-on packages like paint protection or tire warranties. You can save money buying a vehicle privately. However, there is some added security when you buy from a dealer with a warranty.
If you are trading your car in, don’t make any repairs a dealer can accomplish for less. For example, let the dealer decide what to do about worn tires. However, a private buyer is not going to pay top dollar for a car with worn-out tires.