The seven steps
- Detail it: a clean vehicle appraises better
- Gather service records to show it was maintained
- Fix cheap items like bulbs and wiper blades
- Bring both keys and the owner's manual
- Know your exact loan payoff
- Get written offers from more than one buyer
- Agree on the trade value separately from the new vehicle price
How dealers set an offer
Appraisers look at year, mileage, condition, options, accident history and current auction and retail prices in the Houston market. Clean, popular trucks often bring strong offers.
The Texas tax advantage
In Texas, motor vehicle sales tax is calculated on the price minus your trade-in value. Trading in can save you real money compared with selling privately.
Pro tip from our team
Ask for the offer in writing with an expiration date, so you can compare it fairly against other offers.
General information for Houston-area drivers, not legal, tax or financial advice. Program terms, laws and fees change; confirm current details with our team or the official source.
