YOUR TRADE,
YOUR WAY

Trade your car for cash in your hand
or a new ride in your driveway!

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3 Easy Steps:

1

Tell us about your car

2

Sell or trade from home or
in one of our 41 locations

3

Get Paid!

Value Your Trade

Trade-In Estimate Trade-In Estimate


Are you looking to level up your ride around Dearborn, Detroit, and Hamtramck, Michigan? Trading in your vehicle can be a game-changer when it comes to upgrading to a new set of wheels. 

At LaFontaine Volkswagen, we're here to help you make the process seamless and straightforward. When it's time to say goodbye to your current vehicle and hello to a new one, our Value Your Trade tool is your best friend. 

Dissecting the Trade-In Process

Trading is a great way to simplify your experience and put that vehicle’s value right back in your pocket for a brand-new experience on the road. 

Trading in a car means bringing it to the dealership, where its value is assessed and applied directly to your next purchase. 

Compared to selling a car privately, trading in is a quick and easy experience without having to advertise or negotiate with buyers. Plus, the value of your current car can go straight toward your next ride. 

Our Value Your Trade Tool

Our Value Your Trade tool provides a virtual estimate based on essential factors like your car’s make, model, year, and condition in just a few clicks. 

Enter details about your vehicle, and the tool will do the rest, using a combination of market data and condition assessment to give you an accurate estimate. 

This estimate is a fantastic first step in understanding what your trade-in can bring to the table, giving you insight ahead of time. Once you have a ballpark idea, you can then bring your car to us for an in-person appraisal that takes into account any unique qualities of your vehicle. 

Trade-In Estimate

Working with Our Finance Center

Our finance center understands that trading in and financing are big steps, and we’re here to ensure that everything is as straightforward as possible. Think of it as a partnership—we’re here to make financing a positive experience, letting you focus on the excitement of your next car.

When you trade in with us, your vehicle’s appraised value can go directly toward your next purchase, reducing the total to finance. Our experts take pride in making this transition simple, offering support in understanding different options, terms, and what’s best for your individual situation. 

If you’d prefer to keep things virtual, do Your Trade, Your Way online. This three-step process makes landing your next ride a breeze.

Trade-In Estimate

How to Prepare for Trading in Your Vehicle

Getting ready to trade in your vehicle? A little preparation can help you get the best value possible. 

Start by giving your car a thorough clean, both inside and out, and address any service needs. It’s also a good idea to gather any paperwork you have, such as maintenance records, to show that the car has been well-cared for. A well-maintained vehicle is a more valuable one.

If there are any accessories that originally came with the car, like spare keys or original floor mats, bring those along as well. These small touches add value and help prepare the car for its next owner.

Ready to Value Your Trade?


Now that you know the steps, take action! Get an initial estimate here, then bring your car to LaFontaine Volkswagen for a full in-person appraisal. Our team is ready to help you find the best offer and support you every step of the way.

Contact us today to schedule your appraisal near Dearborn, Detroit, and Hamtramck, MI!

FAQ

FAQ Have questions about selling or trading your car? We've got answers.

Your LaFontaine offer is good for either cash or trade-in credit, and you'll receive the same value no matter which you choose. Once you receive your instant offer, you can save it to your LaFontaine account and apply it to your new ride. A LaFontaine valet will come to you to pick your old car up and deliver your new car right to your door.

And don't worry! If you change your mind about the new car, we'll still buy your car for cash.

Yes, and our offer will be the same whether you're buying from us or not.

We review current market conditions as well as your car's specific year, make, model, mileage, and vehicle history report. We examine your car's condition inside and out for major defects like frame or flood damage. We also test drive your car and check to see if the brakes and turn signals are working (among other things). If repairs are needed, we may adjust our offer accordingly. In regards to cleanliness, the long-term maintenance and care of your car is what's most important in determining our appraisal offer.

Requirements can vary from state to state, but there are a few items you'll need no matter where you are:

  • Your car's title or payoff information. All titleholders should be present.
  • Valid and current registrations
  • Valid state-issued photo ID for all title holders.
  • All keys and remotes

Please note that you don't need these things to get an offer for your car, but if you think you plan to sell when you get your offer, you should come prepared with these items.

You will leave with payment in hand the same day you sell us your car. We pay with a bank draft, which is a type of check where payment is guaranteed to be available by the issuing bank. A bank draft must be deposited and cannot be cashed. Before attempting to draw on the bank draft, always check with your bank to see if they have a specific hold policy on deposits.

If your payoff amount is more than the offer for your car, the difference is called "negative equity." In some cases, the negative equity can be included in your financing when you buy a LaFontaine car. If not, we'll calculate the difference between your pay-off and our offer to you and you can pay LaFontaine directly. If the amount you owe is less than $250, we will accept a personal check. LaFontaine stores accept cashier's checks, certified checks, certified funds, cash, and debit cards. LaFontaine Car Buying Centers (locations that only buy cars) can accept cashier's checks, certified checks, and certified funds. Our written offers are good for seven days, giving you time to get any necessary funds to settle your transaction.

Yes! In most cases, you can sell your leased car in almost the same way as any other financed car. We'll appraise the car, then contact the leasing company for a payoff quote and process any equity you might have. Please note that some leasing companies will not allow you to sell the car prior to the expiration of the lease. Also, be aware that your leased car might not be eligible for trade-in tax savings. Check with your leasing company for complete details.

We'll buy yours even if you don't buy ours!