Check Your Car's Value Before Trading In

The Problem

The dealer offers $8,000 for your trade. You accept because it 'sounds fair.' It's worth $11,000.

The Hack

Before visiting a dealer, check your trade-in value at KBB.com and Edmunds.com. Get an instant offer from Carvana and CarMax too. Walk in knowing the floor price for your trade.

Why It Works

Dealers low-ball trades because most people don't know their car's value. Having KBB, Edmunds, and competing offers (Carvana, CarMax) creates leverage for a fair trade-in price.

Pro Tips

• KBB Trade-In value + Carvana offer + CarMax offer = your leverage
• Get the Carvana/CarMax offer in writing before visiting the dealer
• Negotiate the trade-in SEPARATELY from the new car price
• If the dealer won't match, sell privately for 20-30% more