Top 5 Things to Know Before Trading In Your Vehicle

Location: Silver Lake, Indiana
Posted by: Kerlin Motor Company
Estimated Read Time: 3 minutes

Don’t Leave Money on the Table

If you're thinking about trading in your vehicle, the way you approach it can mean the difference between a great deal and walking away with less than you deserve. At Kerlin Motor Company, we’ve helped thousands of people get top dollar for their trade—without the back-and-forth games. Here’s what you need to know before handing over the keys.

1. Know Your Vehicle’s Real Market Value

Don’t just guess. Use tools like Kelley Blue Book or Black Book to get a baseline, but remember—they don’t know your local market or your vehicle’s real condition. That’s why our appraisals are always done by a trained expert who considers demand, reconditioning costs, and mileage trends specific to Silver Lake and surrounding areas.

2. Clean It Up

You don’t need a full detail, but a clean car shows pride of ownership. Wash it, vacuum it, and remove personal items. First impressions matter—especially when someone is evaluating what your vehicle is worth.

3. Bring All the Keys and Records

Multiple keys, service records, and accessories (like tonneau covers or floor mats) all add value. Missing items can cost you hundreds—or worse, give the appraiser a reason to lower their offer.

4. Be Honest About Condition

If you know your car needs tires or the A/C doesn’t blow cold, say it up front. At Kerlin, we do our own full inspection anyway. Being transparent lets us give a fair offer fast without surprises that kill your deal later.

5. Trade-In Value Is Only One Part of the Deal

A high trade number doesn’t always mean a better deal. Some dealerships inflate trade values and hide the discount in the price of the new car. At Kerlin, we keep the numbers clean, so you know exactly what you’re getting—no shell games.

Bring It to Kerlin for a Real Offer

We make trading your vehicle in as simple and transparent as possible. Whether you're buying a new Shelby, Explorer Van, or one of our quality pre-owned cars, we’ll give you a real offer based on the real value.

No pressure. No obligation. Just the honest truth.

Visit us in Silver Lake, Indiana
Call for a free appraisal: 260-352-2162
Or start online at kerlinmotors.com

Although every reasonable effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained on this site, absolute accuracy cannot be guaranteed. This site, and all information and materials appearing on it, are presented to the user "as is" without warranty of any kind, either express or implied. All vehicles are subject to prior sale. Price does not include applicable tax, title, and license charges. ‡Vehicles shown at different locations are not currently in our inventory (Not in Stock) but can be made available to you at our location within a reasonable date from the time of your request, not to exceed one week.

While we make every effort to ensure the data listed here is correct, there may be instances where some of the factory rebates, incentives, options or vehicle features may be listed incorrectly as we get data from multiple data sources. PLEASE MAKE SURE to confirm the details of this vehicle (such as what factory rebates you may or may not qualify for) with the dealer to ensure its accuracy. Dealer cannot be held liable for data that is listed incorrectly.

Although every reasonable effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained on this site, absolute accuracy cannot be guaranteed. This site, and all information and materials appearing on it, are presented to the user "as is" without warranty of any kind, either express or implied. All vehicles are subject to prior sale. Price does not include applicable tax, title, license, and $199 documentation fees. ‡Vehicles shown at different locations are not currently in our inventory (Not in Stock) but can be made available to you at our location within a reasonable date from the time of your request, not to exceed one week.

Kerlin Motor Company, Inc.