• Research the value of your trade-in before visiting the dealership
• Have the dealer show you the value of your trade separate from the new vehicle offer
• You’ll get more for your vehicle by selling your old car yourself.  Auto dealerships, like most businesses, are in business to make a profit. 
• Dealers will normally pay you the wholesale value for your vehicle so they can resell it at the retail value. 
   

You can also save yourself some time and money simply by shopping at the right time. Savings often come with buying a vehicle at the end of the month when salespeople are working to meet quotas and dealers are trying to avoid paying another month’s worth of finance charges for vehicles on their lots.
 
You’ll also tend to get a better deal at the end of the model year, a few hours before closing or on slow days due to market conditions or bad weather.