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Is it Better to Trade my Car to a Dealership or Sell it on my Own?

5/18/2020

 
​When it’s time for a new vehicle, it can be a tough choice deciding whether to trade your car in on the new one or try to sell it on your own.  The choice really comes down to whether you are willing to put forth the effort in selling it on your own or if you need the trade in for your down payment.
Pros and Cons to Selling your Car on your Own
​

If you are willing to spend a little time and effort, selling your car on your own can offer some big benefits, but many people don’t want to deal with it.
  • Most of the time, selling your car on your own will get you more money for your vehicle.  Dealerships will often not offer much more than wholesale value for your vehicle, but selling it yourself lets you put the price on it.
  • It may be easier to negotiate with your potential buyers as they probably don’t have the experience at haggling like a car sales person would. You may be able to keep the price closer to what you want.
  • It does take a lot of time to sell your car.  You need to get it ready to sell, advertise, deal with strangers, and give test drives.
  • If you are counting on the money for your old car to make the down payment on the new, you may not be able to get your new car as soon as you would like.   Or, if you still owe on the old car, you may have to make two vehicle payments a month until you do sell it. 
  • The longer you try to sell it, the harder it may be.  If you don’t trade it in, you may be stuck with taking much less than you wanted if you can’t afford to make two payments a month.
  • You will have to pay more sales tax on the new car, but if you make enough on the old one, you may still come out ahead.
Pros and Cons to Trading your Car to a Dealership

Many people think that trading their car to the dealership is the best way to get rid of an old car.  There are many advantages to doing that, but one big disadvantage.
  • The biggest reason to not trade your vehicle is the price.  Dealerships will simply not give you as much for your car as if you sold it yourself.  They need to think of resale value and will want to make money on your old car when they resell it to someone else.
  • A huge advantage to trading in your car is how simple it is.  You just drop it off at the dealer and from then on, it is their problem.  You don’t have to advertise it and try to find someone willing to pay your price.
  • The amount the dealership gives you can be used as part, if not all, of your down payment for the new vehicle.
  • You will have to negotiate with very experienced sales people over the price.
  • Many states only charge sales tax on the difference between your trade-ins value and the price of the new car so you may save some money in taxes.
Making the decision of whether to trade in your old vehicle or sell can be difficult.  If you don’t have the time to deal with advertising and with people looking at your car, trading it in may be the better option.  However, you may get more money for it if you sell it yourself.  The choice becomes whether you have the time and need the extra money or whether you just want the car gone.

How to Disinfect Vehicles to Prevent the Spread of COVID – 19

5/11/2020

 
While many people are thoroughly disinfecting their homes to prevent the spread of COVID-19, disinfecting their cars may never cross their minds.  Even if you are extremely careful in stores and wash your hands as soon as you get home, you may transmit the virus to your car between stores and home. Follow these steps to be sure your car is germ-free.

If someone who is positive for COVID-19 has been in the vehicle, leave the car alone for at least 24 hours, if possible, before starting to disinfect it.  Limiting the number of people you transport in your car to members of your household will help prevent the potential spread of the virus.

To disinfect your vehicle, choose any disposable wipes that are sanitizing.  Please note that baby wipes will not kill the virus.  The first time you disinfect your vehicle, be sure to thoroughly wipe all of the following areas of your car.  Once you have cleaned it the first time, use wipes to disinfect any areas you touch every day.

Clean the following areas:
  • Seat belt buttons and adjustors
  • Buttons that control mirrors, lights, door locks, sunroof, and windows
  • Gas cap and fuel lid
  • Interior and exterior door handles
  • All radio controls (buttons and touch screens – including Bluetooth devices)
  • Steering wheel and all control buttons on it
  • Turn signals, windshield wipers, fog lights, and four-way flashers
  • Gear shift
  • Trunk, hood, and gas cap release knobs
  • Exterior hood release
  • Exterior trunk handle
  • Power seat switches
  • Arm rests on all doors (both window and interior rests)
  • Ignition switch and keys (or fob)
  • HVAC controls and vents
  • Center console
  • Cup holders
  • Sun glasses and case
  • Leather seats
  • Glove box button and handle (It would be a good idea to wipe the entire box down.)
  • Side and rear view mirrors
  • Garage door openers
  • Any chargers you may leave in your vehicle (do not wipe the ends – only the wires themselves)
As a precaution, put sanitizing wipes in your car so you can easily wipe down surfaces you touch often.  Get in the habit of doing that as soon as you get home every day or between stops if you are running several errands at a time.

In addition, while car dealerships have strict orders in place on disinfecting your vehicle when you take it in for repairs – both before they work on it and after, it is still a good idea to disinfect your car as soon as possible after it has been serviced or repaired.

​Keeping your vehicle clean is an important part of stopping the spread of COVID-19, and it only takes a few minutes each time you use your car.

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