Trade In - Is The Price Negotiable?

[spolebitski]

When it comes to the trade in with the vehicle is the price they quote can you negotiate (higher value)?

I do know that most dealers will quote the "Auction Value" and will sell the vehicle at the "used car" price.

Any advice would be helpful.

[corbinse]

Spolebitski,

The simple answer to your question of is your trade value negotiable, Yes all parts of purchasing a car are negotiable. From the car price you are paying, to the trade in value, to the financing interest rate.

Now with that said, dealers will check what the local and possibly national data bases show for what a similar trade in value is going at auction. And they will try to resell your trade for the maximum value they can get out of it. There is no reason to feel negatively about this, they are in business. And that business requires a profit to be made so that they can stay in business. The sales man can make a living and all that goes with it. So you need to keep all of that in mind when you are valuing your trade against the price you are paying for the new vehicle and get the best deal you can.

[spolebitski]

I just wanted to know if I could counter their offer, if this was even a common practice.

Here are some of the basics. I know auction value is ~$15,000 but I owe ~$19,000. Say they offer $15,000 and I ask $17,000 (hopes to get it to $16,000) do you think the salesmen will budge or be more like "this is the final offer, we will not move".

Like I said will a dealer be willing to negotiate or is a trade in value pretty concrete.