Can cars be traded in?
2 Answers
Car trade-ins are possible, but they are generally not very cost-effective. Definition of car trade-in: A car trade-in means that when a consumer is preparing to buy a new car, they bring their original car to the intended model's 4S store, where the staff evaluates its price and uses this price as a discount, with the remaining amount to be paid. Pros and cons of car trade-ins: Relatively speaking, the time cost involved is less, and car owners who don't understand cars don't need to worry too much about being tricked. However, the price evaluated by the 4S store is generally lower than the market price for used cars, and even with the trade-in subsidy, the difference is not significant.
Of course you can trade in! I just swapped my 5-year-old Toyota for a new SUV. Most 4S shops offer trade-in services nowadays - they appraise your old car and deduct its value directly from the new vehicle's price, which is super convenient. Some brands even offer extra subsidies for trade-ins. For example, my friend traded his old Volkswagen for an EV last month and got an 8,000 yuan subsidy alone. Just remember to check your car's secondhand market value beforehand to avoid getting lowballed by the dealership. Used car dealers also do trade-ins - they might offer better prices for your old car but provide fewer discounts on new vehicles, so it's best to compare both options. The trade-in process is quite straightforward though - just sign a transfer agreement, and you can handle both the old car's title transfer and new car's registration in one go.
