A car’s trade-in value is the amount of money that a dealership is willing to pay for your car when you purchase a new one. There are important steps to follow to maximize your car’s trade-in value before visiting the dealership - these include: Thoroughly clean your vehicle and make any minor repairs that are necessary. Estimate your trade-in value from multiple sources to get a good idea of what your car is worth. Obtain multiple offers to sell or trade in your car prior to visiting a dealership. Allow the dealership to provide you with their trade-in offer, then use any other offers as leverage to negotiate if their number falls short.