Most people believe that trading in a car is worth it. Even trading in a car with a loan is an easy process. It is true that the amount you receive on trade is probably less than the amount you would receive through a private sale. Most of the time, you can expect that amount to be anywhere from $1,500 to $3,500 less. However, most people agree that the ease of the trade-in process makes it worth it. Even though you could probably get more money, the private sale process is a lot of work. In addition, a private sale is not really an option if you have negative equity in your vehicle unless you have the cash to pay the difference.