Dye Autos Denver Area Truck and Automotive Blog
It’s time to purchase a “new” used truck, and you’re thinking about the trade-in value you could get on your current truck. Before you send your vehicle off to its next home, there are some things you need to know before trading in your used pickup truck.
Over the years, our customers have always appreciated the information we provide. We believe that knowing all the facts makes for a better customer experience.
Here are 6 common mistakes to avoid when trading in your used pickup truck:
1. Overestimating or underestimating your vehicle’s value.
Trading in your used pickup truck can be challenging and not being realistic about its value will make things more difficult.
Be honest with yourself about your vehicle’s trade-in condition. The more forthright you are when using online appraisal tools like Edmunds.com or kbb.com, the better off you’ll be when it comes time to trade it in. Very often, people come into the dealership with an overly-optimistic idea of what their car is worth, only to find that their expectations weren’t realistic.
2. Bringing in a dirty truck.
Dealers like to see a clean vehicle. It says that you care about your used truck and its value.
Before trading in your used pickup truck, always make sure that your car looks clean and smells as clean as possible. Doing this often increases the value of your trade in.
3. Over-fixing your truck.
Dealerships tend to agree that your best option is to not concern yourself with making major fixes to your trade in. If it’s something as simple as touching up a little scratch or popping out a small dent, these are the kinds of fixes that are recommended.
Anything larger scale would not be worth your investment because the dealership will be able to repair issues for much less than you would be asked to pay at a shop.
4. Forgetting important documents.
Bring all vehicle paperwork with you. Here’s a handy list…
- Certificate of title (if you don’t have it, the DMV can tell you how to get it replaced). Note: if you have an outstanding loan on the vehicle, this will not apply since the bank has your certificate of title.
- Current registration.
- All your keys and the owner’s manual.
- If you still have an open loan, you’ll need to bring your account number or a payment stub.
- Maintenance records. These help support your claims about whatever prior damage your truck has had and the repairs it has undergone.
5. Not having all your truck’s accessories.
Trading in your used pickup truck means you are trading in everything that goes along with it. Make sure the original owner’s manual and any extra keys are in the vehicle when you arrive at the dealership. Dealers like used trucks that still have all the accessories and may even give you a better deal on your trade when everything is there.
6. Not knowing your vehicle’s history.
Being familiar with your vehicle’s history will help during your trade-in negotiations. Be “upfront” with the dealer, especially on any major problems that you know of, even if those problems were caused by the previous owner.
In Summary…
Avoiding the major pitfalls when trading in your used pickup truck can often save you money. Getting the best price for your trade in allows you more purchase power on the “new” used pickup truck you intend to buy.
We suggest going somewhere to get an honest and trusted opinion on your vehicle. At Dye Autos, we’ve been selling great used trucks in Denver for many years and we’d love the chance to help you. Give us a call at (303) 286-1665 or simply fill out our online form >>here<<. We’ll be in touch!
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Many car buyers prefer to trade in their current vehicle when getting another one because it’s easy. All you have to do is drive to the dealership, sign a your paperwork, and drive away in a different vehicle. What many buyers don’t know is that there are other benefits of trading in your car.
One of the biggest benefits of trading in your car is that you can apply the trade-in credit to your down payment, thereby reducing the amount you need to finance. (ie: lowering your monthly payment!)
There can be tax advantages, too. Colorado and most other states require sales tax to be paid only on the difference between the price of your trade-in and the vehicle you’re buying, not the full price of the next car.
But this tax benefit doesn’t apply if you sell your old vehicle yourself!
Important tips when trading in your car
We’ve been selling trucks for a long time in the Denver/Wheat Ridge area. We’ve heard from customers like you who want to know “insider’s tips” on trading in your car. Here are four of our BEST tips!
- Give your trade-in curb appeal.
- Clean the exterior and interior well.
- Remove small dents.
- Fix window glass defects.
- Be honest with yourself about your car’s trade-in condition. The more forthright you are when using online appraisal tools, the better off you’ll be when it comes time to trade it in. Very often, people come into the dealership with an overly-optimistic idea of what their car is worth, only to find that reality is less optimistic.
- Don’t forget to pack all your car’s accessories. Trading in your car means you are trading in everything that goes along with it. Make sure the original owner’s manual and any extra keys are in the vehicle when you arrive at the dealership. Dealers like used cars that still have all the accessories and may even give you a better deal on your trade when everything is there.
- Bring all vehicle paperwork with you. You will need:
- Certificate of title (if you don’t have it, the DMV can tell you how to get it replaced). Note: if you have an outstanding loan on the vehicle, this will not apply since the bank has your certificate of title.
- Current registration.
- All your car keys and the owner’s manual.
- If you still have a loan on the car, you’ll need to have your account number or a payment stub.
- Maintenance records. These help support your claims about whatever prior damage your car has had and the repairs it has undergone.
Are you thinking about trading in your car or truck? Dye Autos is here to help you every step of the way. Call us at (303) 286-1665 or contact us >>>here<<<.
It’s Springtime and as the weather gets warmer, many consumers decide it’s time to buy a pickup truck. You may be considering how a new pickup truck will look in your garage too so let’s talk about the things you need to know before you buy.
At first glance, shopping for a pickup truck might seem a lot like shopping for a car. Pick a color, engine, trim and you’re set, right? But once you consider all the special uses for pickup trucks and the growing number of styles and options, you can quickly get lost in a maze of choices.
Here, then, is how to make truck shopping easier. If you understand the big picture and narrow your options logically, you can more easily find the right truck for you.
1. Know What You Plan on Carrying or Hauling
How you plan to use the truck will guide you to your final choice. Your answers will narrow the field by helping you choose between two- and four-wheel drive. For example, if you are towing a boat or Jet Ski, you might need four-wheel drive to gain traction on slippery boat ramps. If you’re a couple who want to pull a very large mobile home, you might need a “dually” (two rear wheels per side) for towing stability.
2. Choose from Light-Duty, Medium-Duty or Heavy-Duty
Once you know what you’ll tow, find out how much it weighs and be sure to include the weight of the trailer, too. This information will help you choose between a light-duty and heavy-duty truck. Trucks divided into light-duty, medium-duty and heavy-duty categories, identified by numbers such as 1500, 2500 and 3500 or 150, 250 and 350. For example, the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and the Ford F-150 both have impressive towing capacities, but they are considered light-duty trucks.
Sizing the truck properly is important. If you skimp on power, the truck might have trouble hauling what you need. If you buy more truck than you need, it will cost more at purchase and every time you fill up. Plus, you’ll have a harder time fitting into parking lots or tight driveways.
ProTip: Ask your dealer. Dye Autos has helped many, many customers figure out what the best option is for their unique needs.
3. If you’re planning on trading in your old vehicle, get it ‘trade in ready’.
- Check your trade-in’s value.
- Know where you stand on your loan.
- Clean it up.
- Get your paperwork in order
4. Do the numbers.
When you’re ready to buy a pickup truck, you’ll need to research loan options. There are often attractive programs from your local dealership with better interest rates than you’re able to get at your local bank or credit union.
If you’ve experienced challenges with your credit history, it will bump you out of the top tiers of borrowers. Keep your expectations in check because truck lenders have very specific criteria you must meet.
5. Get Pre-Approved
This fast and easy process lets you choose how much you want to borrow based on the type of truck you’re looking for. Pre-approved truck financing with DYE Autos is just a click away. Visit this link >>>here<<< to get pre-approved.
We’ll put our experience to work for you.
We’re here to make your journey to buy a pickup truck simple and easy. Once you complete the short online application, one of our helpful finance specialists will contact you to discuss available financing options, including the amount you’re qualified to finance.
“If it’s a truck you wanna buy, you’d better call DYE!”
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You’ve decided to get a new car (or “new to you” car) and deciding what to do with your old car can be tricky. Nearly every person at sometime in their life has been faced with the challenge of “Should I trade in my car or sell privately?”
Many buyers prefer the simplicity of trading in their current vehicle at the dealership even though they may not get as much money for it. Others choose to do the legwork, find an appropriate buyer and try to get a better price. Here are the Pro’s and Con’s to help you make the decision.
Trading In Your Car
The pros of trading in your car.
One of the major advantages to trading in over selling privately is convenience. Dealers will handle all the paperwork and all you’ll have to do is sign your name.
If your car has any minor defects, you won’t have to worry about getting them repaired before trading in. Minor defects such as small dents, scratches or moderately worn tires won’t make a difference in the offer a dealer will give you. Dealers typically handle fixing minor issues before reselling the vehicle.
If you’ve kept your car in good condition, you can also use it as a down payment. Cash can be a very helpful factor in reducing the overall cost of your new car.
If you’re “upside down” in your car loan (you owe more than it’s worth), the dealer can often roll the difference into the new car loan. Word of caution: you’ll be paying a higher payment and lender approval depends on creditworthiness.
The cons of trading in your car.
There’s really only one main disadvantage to trading in your car: you won’t get the price you would if you were selling it to a private party.
Dealers will offer you wholesale price, not its retail value. This means that while you may have determined your car’s market value, expect the dealership to offer you a price that’s less than what you’d get if you sold it privately.
Selling Your Vehicle to a Private Buyer
The pros of selling to a private buyer.
The most basic benefit to selling a car to a private party is the cash.
You are more likely to get close to your ideal asking price when you sell your car yourself. You’ll have more flexibility to negotiate with a private buyer, and you can hold out until you get an offer you’re happy with.
The cash can be used as the down payment on your new car loan, thereby lowering your payment.
- If you have bad credit, the extra cash can help you get a better loan. Lenders like to see larger down payments.
- If you have good credit, and don’t need to lower your new car’s payment, you can spend the cash in some other way. You can probably find a million ways to do that, right?
The cons of selling to a private buyer.
The biggest disadvantages of selling your car vs. trading it in are time and paperwork.
When selling your car yourself, you’re at the mercy of the buying market, and you’ll need to wait as long as it takes for buyers to come calling. While there are plenty of ways to promote your vehicle for sale, you’ll need patience to find the right offer.
Selling privately means all the paperwork duties for the sale fall on you. Make sure you take every step needed, otherwise, you could put yourself in a position of liability if things aren’t handled correctly.
Selling to a private buyer requires considerable effort, including placing ads, taking phone calls, dealing with strangers, and giving test drives.
One last thing: If you want to use the cash from your sale, you’ll need to sell your car before you buy the new car. This means you’ll need to coordinate the purchase of your new car to fit with the sale of your old car.
At Dye Autos, we’ve taken in hundreds of trade-ins and even outright purchased cars from customers in the Denver / Wheat Ridge area who want to work with a trustworthy dealer. We can help you too! Call us at (303) 286-1665 or simply use our contact form >>here<<.
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