In 2026, getting top dollar for your trade-in requires more preparation and strategy than in previous years.

Here’s why: 7-year-old vehicles traded in during 2025 had an average value of $14,400, a 72% increase from 2019, when they were valued at $8,400, according to a recent report. That’s usually great news for sellers, but there’s a catch.

Despite rising used-car values, many drivers still get less than expected when trading in. The gap between projected and actual resale values is widening as new and used car prices converge. Without knowledge and preparation, you’re likely to leave money on the table.

We consulted CarEdge’s consumer advocates to find out how to get the best trade-in value in 2026. The common theme? Prepared, informed buyers get the best deals. Let’s take a look at how you can top-dollar for your trade-in this year.

How to Negotiate Your Car’s Trade-In Value in 5 Easy Steps

Many drivers aren’t aware that some parts of a car trade-in contract are negotiable, primarily because dealers present the agreement as a package. 

1. Treat Your Trade-In As a Separate Transaction

The number one rule for getting the most for your trade-in is to always treat it as a separate transaction. The car salesperson WILL do their best to tie your trade-in to your purchase. That’s a recipe for a low-ball offer. Negotiating your car purchase and trade-in together gives the dealer more opportunities to profit at your expense. Handle them separately to maximize your trade-in value.

2. Know Your Car’s True Market Value

In most cases, the appraisal of your trade-in value isn’t the final offer. Before you arrive at the dealership, get several online offers and values for your car, so you know what it should be worth. Be honest with yourself about the condition of your car when getting these values.

Having several online offers from CarEdge’s free tool, CarFax, Carvana, and others (as well as the KBB Value) not only gives you an up-to-date assessment of your vehicle’s trade-in value, it is your source of leverage against dealer offers.

3. Compare Offers From Three Dealers

Go one step further and get trade-in offers in writing from at least two dealerships, ideally three or more. They’ll need to see your vehicle in person to do this, but it’s worth the hassle. You’re likely to get hundreds of dollars more (or thousands, in some cases) by not skipping this step. It’s work on your end, but work that pays. 

Having service records on hand can help your trade-in value, too. However, with the widespread use of CarFax and online service records, this is less crucial in 2026. It merely helps to show that the car has been taken care of.

Getting your car detailed can also help you achieve a higher trade-in value, but don’t spend hundreds of dollars on this. A good interior and exterior cleaning at home is usually best for your wallet, and for getting a fair offer for your trade-in.

4. Don’t Settle For Their First Offer

This is an important one. You’d be shocked to see how effective the following questions are at getting more for your trade-in: “Is that your best offer? Do you mind checking the numbers again? I believe it’s worth more than that.” 

In many cases, they’ll ‘check with their manager’ and come back with at least $100 more in value, often more. And that’s all just from showing that you’re not going to just accept the bare minimum for your vehicle.

5. Note Any of Your Vehicle’s “Extras”

Knowing what your vehicle offers is crucial when negotiating trade-in offers, as its specific trim level may raise its value. The original window sticker can help you identify these features. It’s likely sitting in your glove compartment.

For example, mid-to-upper level trims of a specific model tend to offer features that include but aren’t limited to: 

• Additional displays and larger-sized screen
• Branded sound systems with added speakers
• Integrated navigation 
• Panoramic sunroofs
• Tinted windows
• More power 
• All-wheel drive 
• Exclusive wheel sizes and designs
• Higher-performance tires
• Unique exterior and interior badging
• Front seat ventilation and second-row heated seats

Anything that’s not standard equipment on your model’s base trim is fair game. Did you get work done recently? Noting new parts and repairs can increase offers for any trim level.

How to Time Your Trade-in Like a Pro

While 2026 is set to offer higher average trade-in offers, some periods are more ideal for maximizing value. Edmunds data shows that Q1 and Q2 are the best times for trade-ins, as used car values tend to trend higher. 

Additionally, since a car loses more value the longer you have it in your driveway, it’s more appealing during Q1 and Q2 compared to the end of the year when it’s about to become another model year older.

SUV? AWD? Sports Car? Time Your Trade-In Right

What kind of vehicle are you trading-in? If you’re trading-in an all-wheel drive SUV, winter can be an opportune time to get top dollar. Softer-selling segments like a convertible may benefit from a trade-in during the warmer months. 

Is the air conditioning out on your trade-in? You won’t get top dollar for it during the heat of summer! 

Are your tire tread getting low? If so, the icy winter months aren’t the best time to sell. It all matters if you’re aiming to get top dollar for your car!

The Truth About Mileage During Trade-Ins

When considering trade-in timing, mileage often comes to mind. Luckily, there’s no major drop-off after certain milestones, as long as your vehicle has been well-kept, which you can help prove with documents like timely service records. 

In comparison, model years matter more. It may be obvious to some, but many sellers are surprised to learn that like-for-like, a five year-old car with just 30,000 miles on the odometer is still going to be worth significantly less than a two-year old car with 50,000 miles. Model year matters to buyers, especially if there’s a chance your trade-in will go to auction.

Pro Tip: Consider the Tariff Factor

Where a vehicle was built used to be a non-factor; however, a car’s manufacturing location can now play a significant role in resale value due to tariffs. 

Depending on the country, automakers exporting vehicles to the U.S. face tariff rates roughly ranging from 10% to 27.5% on a car’s declared value, increasing dealer replacement costs for impacted new models. When these replacement prices increase, dealers have more incentive to lean on already-imported used models, giving you added leverage if you have an imported brand with limited U.S. production.

Examples of these brands can include:

• Volkswagen Group (VW, Audi, Porsche)
• Mazda
• Subaru
• Jaguar Land Rover
• Volvo and Polestar 

If you follow the news in 2026, you know that the tariff situation seems to change weekly. Even so, sharing this bit of information can still give you more negotiation power, as it shows you’re an informed buyer (and seller).

Ready for a pro to handle your trade-in? We can help.

What if you didn’t have to go back and forth to dealerships, negotiating with pushy salespeople all along the way? Wouldn’t it be nice to have an experiences automotive professional do it all for you? That’s what we offer with CarEdge’s car buying service. From finding the perfect trim and paint color to negotiating every aspect of your deal (including your trade-in), we make car-buying easy.

Learn more about CarEdge Concierge, and take the stress out of your big purchase!