Trade in or private sell when getting new truck

[Idaboy]

Do you try to trade in to dealer amd save some sales tax? Or sell on your own?

I usually purchase used, couple yrs old with low mileage, can't stomach the dealer sticker-shock and the immediate depreciation. Also gives me a year or twonto see if make/model has major issues and/or educate on the "known" issues


It's just such PITA sometimes selling on your own.

 

[mtnbound]

I traded in my last truck to the dealer. Yes, I could have made more selling it privately, but I didn't want to deal with that.

 

[rookieforever33]

Ill trade if I am in a time crunch or if it is unlikely to get a cash buyer. I dont care if the buyer has a loan ir not. Im not going to the bank with you. If your vehicle is woryh under 5 grand. You are pretty much giving it to them if you trade in. Ill sell that one myself.

 

[HuntHarder]

Depends on each and every scenario. I gave up maybe 4k by trading in my last pickup vs. Private party. The logistics of it are much easier and it was instant. Dealing with private party buyers can be a royal pita.

 

[Nickofthewoods]

For those who sell privately what's your go-to these days? I don't have Facebook and craigslist has become such a scam-bot nightmare that it's not even worth vetting responses anymore. Plus they want $5 for vehicle listings now, which is obviously pretty cheap but I feel like I'm just paying to get a bunch of bogus inquiries. I bought a car from autotrader once and it was a good experience, but I have never sold there. Any other seller platforms worth a try?

 

[ODB]

I used facebook to sell an old tundra - it was 8K. I met at a Scheels and it turns out the guy was a former FBI agent so it was an easy deal. We are considering getting my wife another Highlander and really dont want to sell her RAV 4 on facebook. just too much money to deal with some yokel. we are in a similar pinch but it still sucks to lose cash at the dealer

 

[hoooogan]

I'd recommend looking at selling to someplace like Carvana, or at least getting a quote. I did that with my last car. Got an instant offer based off real time market value. ZERO hassles. The tow truck driver did the half assed inspection. No aggressive sales person trying to nickel and dime you on every tiny nuance so they can give you the smallest price. Once it's on the flatbed, you get paid the price they quoted.

 

[Whaledriver]

I have sold a couple vehicles to carmax. Super easy to deal with. Cut you a check and off you go. Sure, could have held out for a couple bucks more on craigslist. I didnt want that headache.

 

[PineBrook413]

If the truck is worth sub $20k I will always sell private. I find if they are worth a lot more than that its harder to find cash buyers.

 

[Valumpessa]

Sold my last 2 private party, with postings on Autotrader, FB and CL. Maybe I got lucky but it was a pretty slick process both times, and got way more than blue book trade-in value so well worth it for me.

 

[waspocrew]

Trade in for me, way easier that way although I know I’m losing cash by going that route.

 

[Fowl Play]

I would at least get quotes for your truck from places like CarMax, etc. before you head to the dealer table so you know what to expect. Wasn’t happy with the offer the dealer was giving me on my truck and told them I would leave, sell my truck to CarMax, then come back to finish the deal. They matched CarMax’s offer (which was 5k higher) so I didn’t leave the table.

 

[Reburn]

I would at least get quotes for your truck from places like CarMax, etc. before you head to the dealer table so you know what to expect. Wasn’t happy with the offer the dealer was giving me on my truck and told them I would leave, sell my truck to CarMax, then come back to finish the deal. They matched CarMax’s offer (which was 5k higher) so I didn’t leave the table.

This is usually the route that has the least hassle. Carmax and carvana are really easy to deal with. Use that to leverage the stealership on trade in value.

 

[Wrench]

You can get sales tax advantages by trading which you need to consider in the transaction. If you are trading in a 20k rig that might save you 2k in taxes bringing your net value to 22k. If your 20k rig sells on the open market for 25k you're leaving 3k on the table. Is that worth it to you? Perhaps if you don't have to burn a vacation day or deal with flakes it is...or not, completely individual there.

 

[journeyman713]

I would at least get quotes for your truck from places like CarMax, etc. before you head to the dealer table so you know what to expect. Wasn’t happy with the offer the dealer was giving me on my truck and told them I would leave, sell my truck to CarMax, then come back to finish the deal. They matched CarMax’s offer (which was 5k higher) so I didn’t leave the table.

This ^^^
Only dealers will go over the CarMax trade quote, my last deal was 15% over, and after taking 8 grand off sticker.

 

[jjschuh]

Depends on situation. I hate trying to sell stuff privately on Facebook or anywhere else. Everyone wants to low ball you half of what it’s actually worth or listed for and half the people aren’t even serious buyers. I decided to just trade in my last truck, I knew there were some motor issues and transmission issues coming very shortly so then it’s on the dealer for not test driving the truck when I traded in. Yeah I could have got a couple grand more selling outright but at the time it was easier to trade in.

 

[02pete]

sell out right and run the paperwork through the dealer still. You have to have your buyer lined up before your new pickup arrives but it the best of both worlds.

 

[elkivory]

I've sold 2 trucks to carmax, traded in multiple vehicles . I just traded a 2020 f150 with 25k miles for a Silverado 2500 diesel. Needed a vehicle to tow 5th wheel. In 60 years of owning vehicles I have only sold maybe a half dozen outright. I usually trade in for convenience. I've found if it's late model, low mileage Carmax may beat the dealer significantly.

 

[2531usmc]

At least for me, I always trade in with the dealer. In today’s world, meeting a random stranger to sell a vehicle could turn our very badly.