When Should You Trade in Your Car

When Should You Trade in Your Car

The new car y'all bought iii years ago for $xxx,000 is worth just over $xv,000 today, and yous're thinking information technology might be time to trade it in earlier its value vanishes completely.

While getting rid of that used vehicle might seem like the smartest motility, you shouldn't use the last couple of years of depreciation as an indication of what will happen next. It'south important to advisedly consider timing and value to sympathise the all-time fourth dimension to trade in your car.

When is the Best Time to Trade in a Automobile?

Many people believe that you should trade in or sell your motorcar every 2-three years. While getting a new car might seem exciting, is trading in your electric current car worth it?

There are several ways to decide if it'south worth making a change. Start by looking at your car's trade-in value, or the dollar amount y'all will receive from selling your car to a dealer when buying a new i. If it's high enough to give yous a depression monthly payment, information technology may be worth considering.

Another factor to consider is current maintenance costs. Does your current car demand some work that might cost you a small fortune? Looking into buying a new auto that doesn't need costly repairs might exist a better route to take. Create a budget to learn if these repairs volition fit into your monthly expenses.

Every car is dissimilar, so information technology's important to consider your unique situation. However, there are some basic calculations that tin help you determine if trading in your motorcar is the right decision.

How to Summate the All-time Time to Merchandise in Your Car: best time to trade in a car

Imagine that you lot had a car that costs $30,000. During the next iii years, the value is reduced to $15,000. If yous take the difference betwixt the original price and the current price, yous're left with a depreciation amount of $15,000.

(Purchase price)$thirty,000 – (Current value)$15,000 = (Depreciation)$15,000

If y'all dissever the depreciation amount by the number of months yous have owned the car, you will discover that yous paid $416 per month in depreciation to own the vehicle.

(Depreciation)$15,000 / (Months owned)36 = (Depreciation per month)$416

However, if you keep to own the vehicle for another 3 years, you may see the value of the vehicle volition drop from $fifteen,000 to $xiii,000. That means that for the next three years, you will only take paid $55 in depreciation every month.

(Current value)$fifteen,000 – (Value in 2 years)$xiii,000 = $2,000

(3 years of depreciation)$2,000 / (Months from present)36 = $55

Ultimately, if you keep the car for 3 years, y'all "lose" $416 per month in value depreciation. But if you continue the car for vi years, you only "lose" $236 per month.

(Get-go 3 years of depreciation)$15,000 + (Next three years of depreciation)$two,000 = (Total Depreciation)$17,000

(Total depreciation over 6 years)$17,000 / (Full months owned)72 = (Depreciation per month)$236

This math shows that it makes more financial sense to go on the car longer. Keep in mind that "losing money" due to depreciation is not a complete loss. While information technology is coin out of your pocket, you will likewise accept use of a well-running automobile, a value that is harder to quantify just should notwithstanding be a gene.

Cars typically lose value faster in the beginning ii years of buying. Once y'all've weathered that stretch, the value will drop much more slowly.

How to Merchandise in a Car

Trading in a vehicle is a matter of doing your research and shopping around. You lot desire to observe a dealership who is willing to give y'all equally close the amount your car is worth equally possible.

Kickoff by doing inquiry on your auto's value. Use resources like Kelley Bluish Volume or Consumer Reports to determine the estimated average value of your auto's make, model and year.

The next footstep is to store effectually for the all-time trade-in value. Visit a variety of dealerships, including second-hand lots and official dealers to find the best offer. Don't forget to bring any necessary documents, including:

  • Your driver's license
  • Registration
  • Keys
  • Car title
  • Any other ownership documents

Tin You lot Trade in Your Car Before You've Paid it Off?

While the trade-in procedure tin can seem straightforward, you may be wondering how you can trade in your car that y'all haven't completely paid off. If y'all still owe money on your machine loan, there are actress steps you lot need to take before making the trade.

When y'all take out an automobile loan, the machine is used every bit collateral until all the money has been repaid. In most cases, it's in your best interest to pay off your car loan before y'all trade in your car. That said, it'southward still possible to trade in your car earlier it'due south paid off. As long as yous're not behind on your car payments, most dealerships volition allow y'all to transfer the remaining amount of your loan to the new car's loan. This means that if you finance your new car, your car payments will likely be higher than if you waited to trade in your automobile until you lot finished paying off your loan.

This is the part where you consider the equity of the car. Equity is the value of an asset that yous own. There are two types of disinterestedness situations you may find yourself in:

  • Positive equity – If you've determined that your car has an $8,000 merchandise-in value and you only owe $v,000, then you have $3,000 worth of positive equity. That equity can be used towards your new car loan.
  • Upside-down disinterestedness – If you notice out that your car just has a $5,000 trade-in value and you owe $6,000, and so you have a negative or "upside-down" equity amount of $1,000. This is the corporeality you will accept to pay out of pocket to the original auto loan lender before you tin trade the machine in.

Earlier signing any documents, brand sure that you lot accept contacted your original motorcar loan lender to inform them of your decision to trade-in. They may even offer an alternative automobile loan solution for your new car at a reduced rate.

Trading in a Motorcar for Lower Payments?

If you're looking to trade in your car considering your current payments are also loftier, you may accept more than financial troubles related to debt than y'all realize. Talk to our certified fiscal coaches today to get skillful personal finance guidance and help with unsecured debt yous may be facing.

Most The Author

Melinda Opperman is an exceptional educator who lives and breathes the creation and implementation of innovative ways to motivate and educate community members and students about financial literacy. Melinda joined credit.org in 2003 and has over 19 years experience in the industry.