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One of the biggest times in the ownership of your current vehicle is understanding “when should I trade my car in?” Do you trade it within a specific time frame? Is there such a thing as too many miles? What if it is not perfect? It probably will not be a surprise to find out that there isn’t an easy answer. But, we do have a few advice to help you decide what time is the best time to trade in your car, truck, or SUV.
This is generally the first question owners wonder. After all, most folks think the easiest way to receive top dollar for their pre-owned vehicle is to do it on their own versus trading it for another vehicle. Still, there are some things to consider when thinking about if you should trade-in your car or sell it.
Selling a car can take many weeks or longer; particularly if your car needs repair work. The seller would have to take care of every single aspect of the sale procedure, from advertising, to test drives, to haggling on price, and anything else that comes up. On the other hand, trading a car generally takes place at the time you purchase your new one.
Usually the seller is accountable for getting the buyer the necessary paperwork, such as the title and registration. If you are new to selling, this may be a disheartening and long process if unexpected challenges like a lien, are attached to the paperwork. The dealer is equipped to take care of the paperwork, including unexpected challenges.
Perhaps the biggest benefit to trading in your vehicle is the potential tax benefit in places with a state sales tax. In these states, there’s a credit applied to the new car’s sales tax if you trade in a vehicle at the same dealer where they buy a new car. In short, the taxes are applied to the price difference once the appraisal of the trade-in is calculated into the final price. The tax savings can easily reach up to thousands of dollars.
There are plenty of opinions on this, especially with late model vehicles that are specifically designed to last a long time. However, there is general consensus on these three mileage milestones to consider when trading in your car:
This is when most new car warranties typically expire. On the other hand, this is also when the first replacement or repairs of ‘wear’ components, like brakes or tires, are typically performed on vehicles. The depreciation of your car will begin to accelerate more quickly after this milestone, so the nearer your vehicle is to this mileage range, the higher your trade-in appraisal will usually be.
Depending on usage, a vehicle that gets to this mileage will be three to five years old and most likely has been well taken care of. As the miles add up, the value tends to decrease so owners ought to keep this in mind when considering their trade-in options.
Thanks in part to modern engineering, this milestone is no longer the automotive death notice that it was in the past. But, the more miles of your car, the greater the depreciation in all but the most exceptionally kept vehicles. Anything within this milestone can still have value even though it might not be in pristine condition. The cosmetic and mechanical condition of your vehicle is definitely scrutinized more closely as the miles pile up on the odometer.
Finally, an important component of trading in the car is being ready for the trade-in evaluation. While the following suggestions are not an exhaustive list, they can help you get the best value out of your car.
This ought to be a no-brainer, but people think that showing their car ‘as-is’ is a more honest approach to a trade-in evaluation. While we do not advocate trying to hide blemishes or problems (Just so you know, they will see through that regardless), it is always a good idea to clean up your car to the best of your ability before bringing it in. This includes removing all debris and trash from inside your vehicle (the trunk too), vacuuming and washing the exterior and interior, and maybe even doing a nice exterior and interior detailing. Just think of the appraiser as a buyer of the car and prepare the vehicle accordingly.
We realize that automotive repairs can be overwhelming, especially for significant mechanical issues. But, if you can repair minor dings, defects in the paint, and cracks in the various mirrors, windows, and windshield, all of those repairs will significantly help improve the price of your trade. If possible, we suggest fixing any mechanical issues the vehicle may have. The nicer your car is, the higher the trade-in value will be.
If you’ve decided that trading in your car is the best option for you, then we suggest coming to the dealership with all of your vehicle’s paperwork, which includes the title (if it is in your possession), registration, any repair receipts you have, and keys you have for the car. Arrive ready to trade your car in and you will not be delayed in driving away in your new car.
If you’re wondering where you can trade in your car for another car, Lexus Southwest Houston is the right place. We make the trade-in process simple and can get you back on the road in a new car today. Schedule an appointment online or visit our dealership to get started.
When Is The Best Time Of The Year To Trade In Your Car or Truck To Get The Most Money?
| Lexus Southwest Houston
Wonderful customer service as always! My service technician Steven Silva is always so welcoming, helpful and informative. He excels at customer service. They also vacuumed my backseat with the complimentary car wash - was a wonderful bonus and surprise as it was much needed with having 2 dogs!!
The people at the Service Department, at Southwest Lexus; were very friendly and helpful. Jose, my advisor was very nice to take the time to explain the work that was going to be done, as well as he was able to complete the recall that I scheduled for the next week. He really did a great service.
Great service and Ashley Udall is one if not the reason why their customer experience is top notch! Always helpful, always explains the service needed, and stays on top of everything by keeping us updated and delivering ahead of schedule!
I have dealt with so many service advisors and counclers throughout Houston area. Ashley is definitely a unicorn. I happened to get the opportunity to work with Ashley recently and received the best service and council. Ashley didn't just focus on the routine schedule service. She made sure that any of my others concerns are taken care of. She assured me that all work will be done at a high standard. I belived it was done perfectly. In addition to her providing a great superior service, her professional attitude and engagement was also admirable. I love the dealership now ... Read More Full review text opened.DealerRater - Jul 2, 2026
I have dealt with so many service advisors and counclers throughout Houston area. Ashley is definitely a unicorn. I happened to get the opportunity to work with Ashley recently and received the best service and council. Ashley didn't just focus on the routine schedule service. She made sure that any of my others concerns are taken care of. She assured me that all work will be done at a high standard. I belived it was done perfectly. In addition to her providing a great superior service, her professional attitude and engagement was also admirable. I love the dealership now because of her. One big thing I don't have to worry about in future. Ashley is definitely a treasure to her company and equally as great to her customers. Got to give the dealer a credit for hiring such a wonderful able person who does the job tasked with excellence. Thank you Ashley for everything. We will always be grateful. Please do not change, stay great.
Steven who is service adviser is excellent. He very professional and polite. He appears to be very knowledgeable
