How Dealers Manipulate Trade-In Numbers
How dealers manipulate trade-in numbers in the US—bundling, inflating allowance, lowballing value so you negotiate separately.
Dealers in the U.S. can manipulate trade-in numbers by bundling trade with new-car price, inflating "trade allowance" while raising new-car price, or lowballing actual trade value. Here's how dealers manipulate trade-in numbers and how to avoid it.
TL;DR Manipulation: (1) Bundle trade and new-car price—you can't see true numbers. (2) Inflate trade allowance and raise new-car price—same deal, looks like a big trade. (3) Lowball actual trade value. Fix: negotiate new-car OTD first (without trade), then trade value; use autopremo.com OTD calculator, trade-in calculator, and price checker. Use autopremo.com.Bundling
Dealer says "we'll give you $X for your trade and $Y off the car"—you don't see true new-car price or true trade value. Negotiate new-car OTD first, then trade value. Use autopremo.com OTD calculator. Get your numbers at autopremo.com.
Inflate Allowance, Raise Price
Dealer "gives" you a high trade allowance but raises new-car price—net is the same or worse. Only negotiate OTD for new car first, then trade value. Use autopremo.com price checker and trade-in calculator. See trade at autopremo.com.
Bottom Line
Dealers manipulate trade-in numbers by bundling, inflating allowance, or lowballing. Negotiate new-car OTD first, then trade value; use autopremo.com OTD calculator, trade-in calculator, and price checker so you see true numbers.