Last updated June 12th, 2023

Here at Benson CDJ, we have heard from many drivers in South Carolina that have hopes to trade in their vehicles to take advantage of the 0% financing and deferred payments offered on Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM vehicles. However, the difference between selling your car to a dealership and trading it in is only sometimes clear; deciding between these options can take time and effort.

South Carolina car owners want to know if they will get the same price between trading in and selling and the advantages and disadvantages of each choice. Whether you trade in, sell to a dealership, or sell on your own will depend on your needs and how much work you want to put into your car before you send it to its new home. Whatever your path, there are certain misconceptions surrounding selling your used vehicle outright to a dealership vs. your vehicle's trade-in value.

One of the biggest misconceptions about this process is that you must buy a car when selling to a dealership. At Benson Chrysler Dodge Jeep, we assure you that we will buy your vehicle without obligation. Selling to us doesn't mean you need to buy, although our team members are here to help you find the perfect car if you choose to buy from us.

Benson CDJ is one of the top dealerships in South Carolina, and we are here to answer all your questions about trading in, selling your car, and more. If this article doesn't fully answer your questions, give us a call or stop by so that we can answer all of your questions.

Selling Your Used Car to a Dealership

Benson CDJ is one of the top used car dealerships in South Carolina, in part because of our extensive inventory of used and certified pre-owned vehicles. Because we are the #1 Jeep dealership in the state in sales, we can offer lower prices and better trade-in offers than many competitors. Benson CDJ also buys vehicles from South Carolina drivers to keep our wide selection of used cars growing.

So how does selling your car to a dealership in South Carolina work?

When you have a car that you need to sell, selling it to a dealership like Benson CDJ can be one of the easiest ways to do so. Many dealerships will buy your vehicle for cash without requiring you to trade it in to buy another car. Benson CDJ is one of these dealerships, buying used vehicles from South Carolina drivers without obligation to purchase another car in return.

How to Sell Your Car to a Dealer

If you decide to sell your vehicle to a dealership, you'll first want to determine which dealership you want to sell to. Here at Benson CDJ, selling only Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and RAM models isn't required. You can bring any vehicle you drive to us to get an offer.

You'll want to be fully prepared when you bring your car to be appraised. You can speed up the process and get a better offer on your vehicle with some preparation, such as emptying your car, cleaning it well, wiping down the outside, and other primary care to show off how excellent your vehicle is.

You'll also want to research beforehand to see your vehicle's worth. Remember that there is a difference between cash value and trade-in value: trade-in value is lower than a vehicle's market value, but the convenience of selling to a dealer is worth it for those who want a hassle-free experience.

Lastly, you'll want to make sure you have all the necessary documents, such as the car's title if you have it, and any valuable accessories, such as extra vital fobs. These extras can help get you a better price for your vehicle.

Pros of Selling to a Dealer

Two significant advantages of selling your car to a dealership rather than on the private market are convenience and speed. Especially when you might be selling your vehicle to cover an urgent necessity, selling to a dealership can be a fast way to get your hands on cash. At the same time, a private sale through inquiries or a platform like Craigslist might take a lot longer.

Selling your car to our dealership can also be a safer option than trying to sell it yourself. Craigslist and similar sites are no strangers to scams and untrustworthy potential buyers. Ultimately, there is no way of knowing exactly who you're dealing with, which can put you in a situation you didn't realize was unsafe until too late.

When selling your car to a large dealership like Benson CDJ, the entire transaction can be safely completed on the same day. Not only that but there is no obligation to buy from our dealership. We will buy your car, whether you plan to shop with us. 

Cons of Selling to a Dealer

Car owners may notice that the amount you get when selling your car to a dealership will sometimes differ from the trade-in offer, even if they're both based on Kelley Blue Book values. You can get an Instant Cash Offer through KBB or bring your vehicle to the dealership to get an offer directly from us.

Generally, the biggest downside to selling to a dealership is that you'll generally sell your vehicle for a price lower than your vehicle's cash value. While this might be a significant sticking point for some, many people feel that it is worth it for a fast, safe, and convenient process.

Contact

Benson Chrysler Dodge Jeep

415 W Wade Hampton Blvd
Directions Greer, SC 29650-1538

  • Sales: 864-877-0161
  • Service: (864) 877-1291
  • Parts: (864) 877-0791

Hours

  • Monday 09:00AM - 08:00PM
  • Tuesday 09:00AM - 08:00PM
  • Wednesday 09:00AM - 08:00PM
  • Thursday 09:00AM - 08:00PM
  • Friday 09:00AM - 08:00PM
  • Saturday 09:00AM - 07:00PM
  • Sunday Closed


Trading in Your Used Car

If South Carolina drivers plan on buying another new or used vehicle, it usually makes the most sense to trade in their car rather than sell it to the dealership. Prospective buyers can find many benefits to trading in their used cars.

The goal of new and used car dealerships, generally, is to sell vehicles. This means that buying a car from their inventory will most likely be offered more value for a trade-in than if you were just selling your vehicle to the dealership. 

It's ubiquitous for drivers to use their trade-in value as a down payment on a new or used vehicle at a South Carolina Dealership. However, you don't need to use your total trade-in value on your new car - you can still get cash for your vehicle even if you're trading in.

This gives South Carolina car owners flexibility when trading in their vehicles. You can get a great trade-in offer at Benson and reduce the cost of your new vehicle but also get a check for part of your trade-in value.

This option is getting increasingly popular, and it's easy to see why. Especially at a top South Carolina dealership like Benson CDJ, where your trade-in vehicle will go further, getting cash and a down payment from your trade is the best of both worlds.

Pros Of Trading In

There are several benefits to trading in your vehicle, which is why so many people choose this option. The first reason is that it is convenient -  there is less hassle and less work than other options. The process generally includes getting an estimate and closing the deal by completing some paperwork. The appraisal process only takes 15-30 minutes before you're offered a trade-in price.

The dealership will also transfer the title, register the car, and any other odds and ends that need to be tied up. When the dealership handles these things, it means less work for you.

Another benefit to trading in your vehicle? Generally, trading in means you'll pay less in sales tax. Most states only require you to pay the difference between your car's trade-in amount and the cost of the new vehicle that you're buying, which saves you money.

As previously mentioned, you can put the trade-in value towards a new vehicle as a down payment, which means you can get a better deal on a new car or pre-owned vehicle than if you were only paying out of pocket. This also means that you can get a higher-value vehicle with more features, or you could reduce your monthly payments in the case of a car loan by paying a higher down payment, which will also save you more interest money.

Lastly, while you can repair your vehicle to raise the trade-in value, you don't need to. When you sell or trade into a dealership, they might take your car even with some damage and take care of repairs themselves. While this might reduce your trade-in value, it also means that you won't have to put money towards repairs before you trade it in.

Cons Of Trading In

Generally, the most significant downsides to trading in your vehicle also stem from the value of your vehicle. Since dealerships want to make a profit on trade-in cars, they may not offer as much money for your vehicle as you could get for yourself if you sold it privately. But you don't need to worry about this at Benson CDJ. Since we buy and sell so many vehicles, we can offer competitive values for trade-in vehicles and some of the best prices on our new and used cars!

While you won't necessarily need to repair your vehicle before trading it in, not making those repairs can quickly reduce your trade-in value. You have the convenience, in most circumstances, to leave those for the dealership to take care of, but you can also take care of them yourself to get a better value for your trade-in.

Other conditions that might bring your trade-in cost down are your vehicle's age, the mileage on the odometer, the condition of the car, and more. Generally, you will get less for it than your original purchase price. If you want to estimate what you could get for your vehicle, you can get a rough trade-in value through Kelley Blue Book. They have a calculator that can give you an expected value for your car.


Get Your Trade Appraised at Benson CDJ

The decision between trading in your car or selling it essentially boils down to two questions: How important is getting the maximum sales price for your old car, and how much work do you want to do to sell it?

Whether you're shopping for a new car or a used vehicle, Benson Chrysler Dodge Jeep is one of the top dealerships in South Carolina. You can get more for your trade and save on your next vehicle when you shop at Benson CDJ. Even if you don't want to buy a car from our dealership, you can still get a competitive cash value for your used vehicle.

No matter why you are trading in your vehicle, Benson Chrysler Dodge Jeep is here to help you get where you're going. If you have any questions about dealing in or selling your car to our used car dealership, give us a call or write to us. We pride ourselves on answering big and small questions and can help you find the best option. Everyone's needs are different, and our South Carolina customers know they can trust our service, trade-in values, and prices on new and used cars.

Our team will do their best to set you up with a car that is perfect for you. Stop by today for an estimate on a selling price or a trade-in value, and come check out our extensive stock of new and pre-owned vehicles at competitive prices. Take a look or take one for a test drive.

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