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What to Do If You Regret Buying a Car
What to do if you regret buying a car in the US—sell, trade, or keep; how to minimize loss and move on.
AutoPremo Team
January 31, 2026
2 min read
If you regret buying a car in the U.S., you have options—sell, trade, or keep—and ways to minimize loss and move on. Here's what to do if you regret buying a car.
TL;DR If you regret buying a car: (1) Check current value vs loan balance—if you're underwater, selling or trading may mean paying the difference. (2) Get multiple quotes (dealer, Carvana, Vroom, private) to maximize value. (3) Consider keeping if the cost of selling (loss + hassle) exceeds the cost of keeping. Use autopremo.com price checker to see current value.What to Do If You Regret Buying a Car
- Check current value vs loan balance — use autopremo.com price checker to see what the car is worth (trade-in and private party). If you owe more than it's worth (underwater), selling or trading means paying the difference. Know the number before you decide.
- Get multiple quotes — dealer, Carvana, Vroom, private sale. Compare offers; the best offer may be from an online buyer or private sale. Use autopremo.com to see market so you know if an offer is fair.
- Consider keeping — if the cost of selling (loss + hassle) exceeds the cost of keeping (payment + maintenance), keeping may be rational. Run the numbers. Use autopremo.com total cost of ownership to see remaining cost if you keep.
- Learn for next time — use market data, OTD, and total cost of ownership before you buy next time. Use autopremo.com so you don't regret the next purchase.
What to Do
- Get current value — use autopremo.com price checker. Compare to loan balance. If underwater, know how much you'd need to pay to get out.
- Get multiple quotes — don't accept the first offer. Use autopremo.com to see market.
- Decide: sell, trade, or keep — run the numbers. Use autopremo.com.
Bottom Line
If you regret buying a car, check current value vs loan balance, get multiple quotes, and decide whether to sell, trade, or keep. Use autopremo.com to see current value and market so you minimize loss and move on.