Use these tips & tricks to help you decide if it’s time to trade your old car in for a new one.

We all remember the amazing feeling that came with buying our first new car, completely exhilarated, driving off the lot thinking: “Finally, I made it!” Over the years, the car served you well, you took it across the state, or maybe even across the country. You made incredible memories with every destination checked off the list, and felt secure as you sat in traffic, knowing that this new car was not going to break down in the middle of rush hour like so many you’d seen on the side of the road. 

It’s been years since then, and your car is still faithfully plugging along, but you’re starting to wonder: “How much longer?” Maybe you’ve noticed a few things here and there that have given you cause for concern, or maybe you’ve made it so far past the factory warranty that you don’t even remember how many miles it covered in the first place. Making the decision to trade in your faithful first car is a hard one to be sure, so we’ve compiled a list of things you can do to aid in the decision making process.

• Find Out What Your Car Is Worth: The first thing you should do when you’re trying to decide if you should trade in your car is to check its current market value. You can use Kelley Blue Book for most cars.  If you find that you car is now worth only a fraction of what you paid for it, you might want to think about trading it in before its value depreciates further. 
• Calculate The Average Cost Of Repairs: Look at all of the repairs that have had to be done on your car over the years and compare the average to what your car is worth currently. Be sure to take into account possible repairs that will be needed in the future, and think about how much those will cost compared to the cost of trading in your car and getting a new one. If it seems like the repairs will cost more than your car is actually worth, it’s definitely time to trade in your car for a new one.
• Get A Second Opinion: Talk to a trusted mechanic about your car, ask them what they think about trading it in for a new one. If your mechanic is telling you it’s time, then it’s probably time. 

These quick tips are just a few of the ways you can come to a decision regarding what you should do with your old car. Some benefits of trading it in are that you’ll instantly be granted access to the newest driving technology. Great gear like touch-screen navigation systems and bluetooth audio are definitely a plus. Another massive improvement will be safety. Every time a new model of a car rolls out, it’s practically guaranteed to have the newest, most efficient safety system on the market. Things like rear-display parking and side and front collision sensors make all the difference in real time driving.

If you think it might be time to trade in old faithful for a new car, come over to Matt Bowers Eastern Shore Nissan and let one of our experts help you find the best car for your needs and your budget!