Why Dealerships Lowball Your Trade-In (and What to Do About It)

"They said my car was only worth $9,000. CarMax offered me $14,500. Must be the $5,500 ‘dealership math fee.’" - Chase Jordan

If you’ve ever brought your car to a dealership and felt like their trade-in offer was an insult to both your car and your intelligence — you’re not imagining things.

Dealerships are notorious for lowballing trade-ins, and it’s not because they don’t like your car.

It’s because they make more money when they buy it from you cheap and sell it high.

Let’s break down exactly how this works, why they do it, and how Deal Guard makes sure you get every dollar your trade is worth.

🏦 Why Dealerships Lowball Trades

💰 Profit Margin Game

Dealers don’t just resell your car — they recondition it and flip it for profit.

Buy your car at $9,000 → Clean it up → Sell it for $14,995 = 💵💵💵

🎩 Payment Manipulation Trick

They offer less on your trade so they can “discount” more on the car you’re buying. It’s all a shell game:

• Low trade value

• Slight discount off MSRP

• Monthly payment still sounds good

📉 They Bank on Laziness

Most people don’t:

• Shop their trade to multiple buyers

• Research the value beforehand

• Know how to negotiate trade numbers

• Go well past KBB (Kelly Blue Book) - Go deeper!

🧠 What Your Trade-In Is Actually Worth

Use these tools for a real ballpark:

• Do not use KBB Instant Cash Offer - Your info will be sold to dealers and you'll get 31 calls 😤

• Carvana / CarMax / Vroom / quotes

• Facebook Marketplace / Craigslist pricing for private sale comps

• Auction values (like MMR) if you can get them

• Visor to see what your car or very similar is selling for right now!

💡 Even if you want the convenience of trading it in, knowing your car’s value gives you leverage.

⚠️ Watch for These Trade-In Red Flags

• "We’re giving you a great deal overall, don’t worry about the trade value."

• No written offer — only verbal games

• Quick offers without inspecting the car

• Subtracting money for minor dings or basic wear and tear

You don’t need perfection to get a fair price.

💪 How to Maximize Your Trade-In Value

1. Get 2–3 outside quotes (CarMax, Carvana, local buyers)

2. Get your payoff (if you still owe on your loan)

3. Clean the car (but don’t detail it professionally — not needed - dealers don't even do that)

4. Bring documentation (all and any service records, extra keys, tires, etc.)

5. Tell the dealer: 'I already have an offer from ___, what can you do for me?'

💥 It instantly flips the power.

🛡 How Deal Guard Protects You

At Deal Guard, we:

• Get real-time quotes from as many sources as possible

• Tell you what your trade’s truly worth

• Use that value in the negotiation

• Help you decide if trade-in, private sale, or buyout is smartest

• Do the math, is giving it to the dealer a good tax benefit or would we get more privately

We don’t let dealers bury your value to boost theirs.

😎 Final Word from Chase

Your trade-in isn’t a donation — it’s a potential valuable piece for our negotiation.

Don’t let a dealership treat it like a coupon.

At GetDealGuard.com, we fight for every dollar — on your purchase and your trade.

🎯 Got a trade-in?

Don’t go in blind.

Let us help you price it right, negotiate it smart, and keep the equity in your pocket.

Go to GetDealGuard.com and let’s make your next deal your best one yet.

Until next post —
Chase ⚡️