Whats my trade worth?

                           Here's another good question I get all the time with almost every deal I make; what is my current vehicle worth in trade? Well the truth is it's value is what some one will pay for it! That unfortunately is the real answer making valuing a vehicle very difficult, and there are no two cars that are the same.With that in mind this is the way most New car dealers evaluate your trade. Well what we don't use is Kelly Blue Book. you will never see a Used Car Manager (the guy who value's your car) look your car up using KBB the reason is they evaluate your vehicle across large areas first of all so it doesn't take in consideration local market value and can give you a regional price. KBB also only updates quarterly at best which doesn't take in consideration current trends in the market. On some vehicles I have seen KBB off thousands of dollars.What you will see on every Used Car Manager is Black Book and a N.A.D.A guide. The Black book comes out weekly and the N.A.D.A. GUIDE comes out monthly. They will also use local auction reports like Manheim. They will look at what cars similar to yours are going for at the action. The dealers that can afford it will also use a PC program called V-Auto. What V-Auto does is not only have N.A.D.A. VALUE built in but it allows the dealer to see every vehicle similar to yours  in proximity to there location and what it's selling for. So in other words they type in your vehicle Identification number or VIN and every car like yours in 300 miles pops up. What they sold for at action, what there priced at and where they are located. Giving them the best Idea of what your car is worth. Most people think that the Dealership wants your car to be valued for less, this is not true they want your car to be worth the most it can be. This helps the deal go smoother, a good value on your car makes negotiating easier for both party's. Now the dealership does make money off your trade but be aware that not all dealers are trying to rip you off. Most dealers will make room in your trade or even give you more then it's worth in some cases to make a deal. Understand the dealer takes your vehicle in for trade but turns around and takes all the liability for that vehicle. They have to pay to have a inspection for safety before they can sale it. The service center will charge 400.00 to 600.00 for this inspection to the sales department charged to that car. They will also have to fix anything wrong with the vehicle taking the chance that something they had no idea was broke has to be fixed, if not multiple items including O2 sensors, belts, brakes front and back, rotors, engine mounts, tires, transmission, engine, ect. So that engine light that's been on for a year they are going to fix that before they sale the car. This also will be considered in your vehicle appraisal. So there isn't a easy why to answer the question, but here is what you can do to protect yourself. First only shop at larger more reputable dealerships. They care about word of mouth and care about their customers. They would prefer to help you get the most out of your trade so that you continue to do business with them over and over again. If you are unsure how they come up with a value just ask WHY. Why is my vehicle worth that price; the dealership should easily explain exactly how they come up with the figure. If the sales person is new he may not understand how to properly explain how they come up with that number, feel free to ask to speak to the person who priced your trade in. They will know exactly how they come up with the price and can explain it completely. If they refuse to explain why Just go some where else there is no reason they shouldn't tell you. Get an idea before you go in by looking your trade up in N.A.D.A. it will not be able to give you exactly what your going to get but it will not be off 5000.00 dollars if your trade is worth thousands less then that value with no reason why you obviously have a problem. I never have a problem with the value of my customers trade in. The biggest thing is don't listen to what your friends say. It took me about an hour to properly write out a full explanation and I've been in there car business for 12 years, and I still can't value your trade. Used Car Managers have 20+ years in the industry in almost every case. So your friend that has never worked in the car business says your car is worth this or you should have got that for your car is wrong; if his idea of the value of your car is because he thinks so. I have no idea why people do that I have friends that do the same thing and then you start getting buyers remorse over your purchase. Don't let people rain on your parade Come see me or go to a reputable dealership ask why and feel good about making a educated decision. If you ever have an issue and need advice Call, text me 502-648-8118 or just post in the comments and I will be glad to help.