What happens if your trade in is worth more than the car you are buying?

If your trade-in is financed and you have equity, the dealer will pay the remainder of the loan and subtract the equity from the price of the less expensive car. If the equity of your trade-in exceeds the price of the car your trading for, the dealer will cut you a check for the difference.
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Can you trade a car in thats worth more than the car you want?

If your car is worth less than what you still owe, you have a negative equity car also known as being “upside-down” or “underwater” on your car loan. When trading in a car with negative equity, you'll have to pay the difference between the loan balance and the trade-in value.
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What happens when a car being traded in has more value than the new car?

At the time of the actual trade transaction, your car dealer will pay you the difference between what your trade-in is worth and the price of the car you are purchasing. For example, suppose your trade-in is valued at $10,000 by the dealer, and you own it free and clear.
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When trading in a vehicle and you owe more than what it is worth what is the amount called that gets added to your new car payment?

Some car dealers advertise that, when you trade in your car to buy another one, they'll pay off the balance of your loan. No matter how much you owe. But what if you owe more than the car is worth? That's called “negative equity,” and the dealer's promises to pay off your loan may be misleading.
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What happens to the balance of a car when you trade it in?

Your car loan doesn't disappear if you trade in your car. However, the trade-in value of your car becomes credit towards your loan. This credit might cover the whole balance. If it doesn't, your dealer will roll over your loan, combining the deficit with the amount owing on your new car.
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My Sneaky Trade In Tactic - Ex Car Salesman Tells All!-How To Trade In Your Car



Does it affect your credit score if you trade in your car?

Trading in your car can hurt your credit score. Trading in your vehicle can cost you if you're not careful. Sometimes the dealership tells you they'll pay off the financing on your trade-in vehicle when you finance a new vehicle through them.
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How long should you keep a car before trading it in?

If the vehicle is new, you should ideally wait until at least year three of ownership to trade it in to a dealership, as this is when depreciation normally slows down. If it's used, it already went through the big drop in depreciation and you can usually trade it in after a year or so.
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How do you get rid of negative equity on a car?

If paying off the car's negative equity in one fell swoop isn't on the table, pay a little more each month toward the principal. For example, if your monthly car payment is $351, round up to $400 each month, with $49 going toward the principal. The more you can pay, the faster you'll get rid of the negative equity.
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Should I trade in a car with negative equity?

If you're upside down on your car loan, it's a good idea to delay your trade-in if you can — unless you are comfortable paying off your negative equity upfront. But if you need a new car soon and a negative equity rollover is your only option, consider buying a used car and borrowing as little as possible.
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How do you buy a car that is not paid off?

How to Buy a Used Car That Hasn't Been Paid Off
  1. Ask the Seller to Pay Off the Car Loan. ...
  2. Go With the Seller to Pay Off the Lien. ...
  3. Set Up an Escrow Account for the Vehicle. ...
  4. Get a Loan to Pay the Lien. ...
  5. Have a Dealer Broker the Automobile Sale. ...
  6. Buy a Certified Pre-Owned Vehicle. ...
  7. Buy a Less Popular but Affordable Vehicle.
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Can I trade a more expensive car for a cheaper one?

If the trade-in value is less than what you owe on the vehicle, the lender will pay off the loan, but the remaining balance will get rolled into the new loan on the cheaper car.
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How much do you lose trading in a new car?

It is best not to trade in your vehicle when you purchased it very recently. As soon as you drive a new vehicle off the lot, it loses around 10% of its value and up to 20% of its value within the first year.
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What are the pros and cons of trading in your car?

Trading in your car can come with several benefits — but you likely won't get as much money for the sale.
  • Pro: Less hassle. A key benefit of trading in your vehicle is that it could end up requiring less work on your part. ...
  • Pro: Reduced taxable sales price. ...
  • Con: Lower offer. ...
  • Pro: Higher sale value. ...
  • Con: More work and time.
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How do you trade-in a car with positive equity?

Contact your lender to find out your payoff amount. If you have positive equity, you can use what the dealer offers you for your trade-in to pay off your existing loan and use any leftover money as a credit toward the new car purchase.
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Can you trade-in a car and get cash back?

Your trade value is deducted from your new car's purchase price, not returned to you as cash. If you plan to finance, ask your dealer if you can receive actual cash instead of reducing your loan amount, but consider your loan's interest rate before doing so.
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How do I know if I have equity in my car?

“To calculate the equity on your car, all you have to do is subtract the amount owed on the vehicle from the value of the vehicle. To get the value of your vehicle, you can use a free online appraisal tool such as the ones offered by Kelley Blue Book, Edmunds, or Autotrader. “
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How much is too much negative equity on a car?

Answer provided by. “There's no limit to how much balance you can roll over into a new car loan. However, as a general rule, you shouldn't exceed more than 125% of the value of your car in a loan. Even at 125%, you're going to be upside down on the loan for almost the entire duration of the term.
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How much does your credit score increase after paying off a car?

Once you pay off a car loan, you may actually see a small drop in your credit score. However, it's normally temporary if your credit history is in decent shape – it bounces back eventually. The reason your credit score takes a temporary hit in points is that you ended an active credit account.
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Can I trade in a charged off car?

Can I trade in or sell a car that has been charged off? If your lender charges off a secured auto loan but doesn't repossess your vehicle, you likely won't be able to sell it or trade it in.
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Can I refinance my car loan if I owe more than its worth?

Refinancing Your Upside Down Auto Loan

If you have been suckered into a car loan in which you owe more money to the lender than the car you bought with the loan is worth, otherwise known as an upside down car loan, a good way to get yourself out of this hole is to refinance your upside down auto loan.
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Will CarMax buy a car with negative equity?

If your pay-off amount is more than our offer for your car, the difference is called “negative equity.” In some cases, the negative equity can be included in your financing when you buy a car from CarMax. If not, we'll calculate the difference between your pay-off and our offer to you and you can pay CarMax directly.
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What mileage should I trade in my car?

30,000 To 40,000 miles

The depreciation of your vehicle will generally begin to accelerate faster after this milestone, so the closer your car is to this mileage, the better your trade-in will likely be.
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How is trade value calculated?

Factors that determine the value of your trade-in include the condition of the car, the demand for that particular make and model, and your skill at negotiating a price. The moment a new car leaves the lot, it begins to lose its value, known as depreciation.
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How often should you switch cars?

Many car owners make the mistake of assuming that they need to replace their vehicles every few years. The average age of a vehicle on the road is about 11 years, but most drivers keep a car for about six years.
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Is it better to put cash down or trade in a car?

Key Takeaways. When considering whether to make a down payment or trade-in a vehicle it's usually best to make a down payment from a financial perspective. You'll get more bang-for-your-buck when offering a down payment. This could mean selling your vehicle privately before going in for a purchase.
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