Getting your car or van prepared for part exchange

If you're looking to buy a new car or van, the chances are you have an old vehicle to sell. Although there are many routes that you can take to get rid of an old motor, part-exchanging with the same dealership you're buying from can make the process easier, as well as lower the cost of your new car or van.

To make the most of your part exchange, you'll be surely looking to get the best price for your current vehicle and making small changes, whether they are free or cheap, before handing over the keys can help. Here are our tips on preparing your car or van for a part exchange - and they're all changes that shouldn't break the bank.

Make sure you have all the appropriate documents

Ensuring all your vehicle documentation is in order is very important when trading in a car or van, because you're required to provide the essential documentation and paperwork to confirm you own the vehicle, its service history, and roadworthiness. These documents include:

V5C Complete Log Booklet

Driving License (Matching the V5C)

Current MOT

Service History

Proof of address

Finance settlement letter (where applicable)

As well as the required documentation, don't forget to bring any spare keys you have, as well as the locking wheel nut key so the dealership has everything they need after the part exchange is complete.

Give it a clean

Although it doesn't have to look like new, giving your car a quick clean inside and out can really help its appeal to a dealership. A shining, clean car or van will be more appealing for part exchange and allow the dealership to see the vehicle's actual condition.

Remember it's not just the outside that needs a clean, the inside should be tidied as well. Remove any belongings and rubbish, dust the hard surfaces and vacuum the seats and flooring - anything to make it look loved and well looked after.

Try to get rid of any scratches or paintwork marks

No matter how careful an owner is, anyone who drives a car or van most days is going to pick up some minor paintwork marks at some point or another. Unfortunately, giving your car or van a clean can reveal any damage like scratches or dents on the paintwork. Some of these won't be easy to patch up, but some of these smaller blemishes might be possible for you to repair for very little cost.

Usually, these light scratches or scrapes can be tamed with a little bit of polish and elbow grease, or a specialist scratch remover. Small dents can sometimes be removed by using hot water or pushing out the dent from behind. Before doing any work, make sure you do your research on the best techniques and methods for your type of damage to make sure you don't make the situation worse.

Check for any mechanical issues

If your car or van is in working order, you're more likely to get the best price for it. There are simple checks you can carry out to ensure it's in the best working order such as:

• Check online to see if there are any outstanding vehicle recalls and get these sorted if necessary
• Check all the lights, gauges, tyres and windscreen wipers to see if they need replacing
• Check to see if your engine has the right levels of oil, coolant and brake fluids, as well as screen wash, and top them up where necessary

Carrying out these checks regularly is important for general car ownership, not just when looking for a part exchange.

How we can help

Looking to sell or part-exchange your car or van? We can help.

At Carbase, we make sure our part-exchange process is simple and fuss-free with our knowledgeable staff on hand to ensure you leave with the right car for you, and that you get the best deal when part-exchanging your car.

As a family-run company, we also believe in fair pricing and our experts will strive to offer you our best price for your car or van. Find out more about our part-exchange process, or get in touch today.

What is Part Exchange?

Part exchanging is the process of using the value of your existing car or van to offset the purchase of a new vehicle. For most dealerships, your part exchange value will likely be deducted from the final purchase price of your new vehicle. In some cases, if you are taking on a new car or van finance agreement, you may be given the cash value of your current vehicle instead.