Tell me about part exchanging

[User97531]

Just as the title says really. Got a 16 plate qashqai that I got with 9k miles for just under £10k nearly 2 years ago, 23k miles now. 1 previous owner. Need something bigger now so wondering about part exchange and how it works in reality, and any tips..? I'm worried about knowing if I'm getting a good deal, negotiating and talking to sales people and things like that.. do I just try any random car dealership or is it best to find the car I want first on say auto trader then enquire?

Look on auto trader for similar cars (year/mileage) to yours, and look at the private sale price and the dealer price. The private sale price is nearer (and lower) than the dealer ones, and one that the trade in will likely achieve. If offered a huge amount lower than that, haggle up.They will usually give in and get near to your price, as the mark up on new cars is massive so a few hundred or a thousand, wont hit their profit margin much

It works with used cars too. I did this recently with an 18 plate car I bought in the summer.

Also, get a price from Webuyanycar or similar to give you an idea of your car's value.

Thank you both thats a helpful starting point for me. Will work out rough value value, find a car I want and see if it will all add up. Does it work if the car you want to trade up to is only a bit more expensive? I can't afford to spend much more than the value of the part exchange tbh. Definitely not a new car just a new to me car!

I can't afford to spend much more than the value of the part exchange tbh. Definitely not a new car just a new to me car!

Then probably best to stick with what you have if you can manage with the space. In effect you’ll end up with a car that’s worth less than the one you currently have, the dealer has to make a profit somewhere.

Surely you need to do your own reseach to identify the car. If you pop into a random garage if they dont have anything suitable they will try and sell you something else.

You need to have an idea of what your car is potentially worth as a trade in. Remember you won't be offered the excellent condition dealer sale price, it'll likely be the poor condition private sale price, or somewhere in between. Also if you're looking to buy a a car worth not much than the one you're trading in the dealers aren't likely to be interested because there is nothing in it for them. An alternative could be to sell privately and buy a new car without a trade in. Sometimes you get a better deal that way, but there are a lot of variables.
Do your research, decide what you want to buy and go and see what the dealer says.

I would totally recommend looking at Skoda for a bigger car, many of them are like the Tardis inside! I had an Octavia estate, the boot was massive, but the price wasn't. They are essentially VWs with a different badge and a lower price tag

Thank you. Good point about not a lot in it for the dealer if you aren't spending much more money.
May look into private sale.. not something I was contemplating due to it being more work and I have a newborn but maybe needs must.

We are making the car work for now but when we travel as a family of 5 I sit in the back between 2 children and our surprise new baby (hence car no longer suitable and wasn't a factor when purchased) is belted in the front seat with the airbag off and my husband always has to drive as he can't fit in the middle seat. Or we take 2 cars. So whilst not impossible it's not the most ideal set up, though the more I read online the more common an issue it seems to be.

But thanks for all the advice, I shall do a bit of looking and see if it makes financial sense or whether we need to just deal with it.