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The Daily Horizon

Is it better to sell your car yourself or trade it in?

Author

Matthew Underwood

Published Jan 07, 2026

Trading in You will get less money than selling it yourself. At best, you should expect to get the vehicle’s wholesale value. You can use the trade-in amount as the down payment on the new car. Most states charge sales tax only on the difference between the trade-in value and the new-car price.

What is an advantage of selling your old vehicle yourself rather than trading it in on a newer vehicle?

In order to cover its costs and make a profit on taking your used vehicle on a trade-in, the dealer will tend to offer you, at best, its wholesale value. If you sell it yourself, you can generally get a price closer to the car’s retail value, which can be a thousand dollars or more higher.

Is trading in your car worth it?

Many people believe that you should trade in or sell your car every 2-3 years. Start by looking at your car’s trade-in value, or the dollar amount you will receive from selling your car to a dealer when buying a new one. If it’s high enough to give you a low monthly payment, it may be worth considering.

What is an advantage of selling your old vehicle yourself?

The biggest advantage to selling a vehicle yourself is the ability to ask a higher price. You may not always get your starting asking price, but the majority of the time the vehicle will still sell for more than a dealership is willing to offer in a trade-in.

What mileage is the best time to sell a car?

Even though many modern cars last well past the 100,000-mile mark, what you’ll get for trading it in drops. Because depreciation is constant, it’s best to sell or trade in your vehicle before it hits the 100,000-mile mark.

Is it better to sell your car or trade it in?

There is no investment of time or money, and after a few simple signatures the dealership takes care of all the paperwork. On the other hand, selling the car yourself will put more money in your pocket. However, most private party buyers will examine the car top to bottom, inside and out.

Which is the best way to sell your car?

You are better off selling the car to CarMax, or to a local dealer. Failing that, you’ll probably be better off trading it in as a down payment on a new car. Each of these methods have different advantages and drawbacks. If you have time, and you want top dollar, sell the car to a private party.

How long does it take to sell a car yourself?

In total, it takes all of 5 minutes and you can do it on your schedule any day you’d like. There is no investment of time or money, and after a few simple signatures the dealership takes care of all the paperwork. On the other hand, selling the car yourself will put more money in your pocket.

How to buy a car through a sole trader?

1 Claim mileage 2 Buying a car for cash 3 Hire purchase 4 Claim lease payments