Click for a dedicated page comparing the pros and cons of trading vs private sale.

You can throw the ball to Blue while we appraise your trade!

So what is "Current Market Value" and how do you determine it?
Current Market Value is the actual wholesale value of the vehicle---the amount the top bidder at an auction would pay for it. We ask you some questions about your vehicle. Then we inspect your vehicle's mechanical and cosmetic condition, optional equipment, color, service history, resale potential, and others factors.

How do you ensure the Current Market Value is accurate?

Depending on the situation, we use a combination of the following:

We consult dealer-only, subscription-based auction databases.
We consult the bidding at internet auctions where we can buy vehicles similar to yours.
We refer to our prior experiences retailing similar vehicles to yours.
We call other dealers and wholesalers who specialize in certain vehicles and therefore will pay top dollar.

Why does your Current Market Value differ from values I found on consumer websites?

With consumer pricing websites, at best you get a ballpark. At worst, they can give an air of authority to values that are not grounded in reality. Consumer sites use algorithms to depreciate the original price of the car when new. However, there can be a big difference between a "depreciation prediction" and Current Market Value.

Why is there such a big difference between trade in value and retail value?

Depending on the vehicle, this difference is usually $3,000 to $4,000. That sounds like a big margin. But after you deduct reconditioning expenses (they average almost $1,000 per car), advertising expenses (hey, you found us somehow, didn't you?), facility expenses (you think your home mortgage is expensive, imagine eleven acres of prime commercial real estate), personnel expenses (we need money to buy all those polyester suits and pinky rings), and we don't always get "retail value" (cars depreciate and if we don't sell them quickly then we need to reduce the price.)

What are some examples of these errors?

To see for yourself, add 200,000 miles to the mileage of your trade. This would diminish the actual value of the vehicle to almost zero. However, internet sites typically deduct only a thousand or two. Other errors occur on vehicles with poor repair records, because the computer doesn't deduct enough value for their poor reputation for reliability. Other errors occur when the condition is rated improperly---not surprisingly, most consumers tend to see their used vehicles in a much more flattering light than they will be seen by the ultimate purchaser.

Did you know we will buy your vehicle or take your Subaru lease return, even if you don't buy one from us? Just call James Greene or Nate Roman at 888-534-2725. We'll even give you a ride home!

Want more information about your trade? Simply complete the form below!

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