Trade-in prices in NZ: what your car's really worth — and how to get more.
When you trade your car in at a dealership, the number they offer is almost never the car's real market value. Dealers price trade-ins to leave room for reconditioning, yard time, and their margin — which typically means the offer lands well under what your car would fetch sold directly.
What actually affects your trade-in price
The big five: kilometres (lower is worth real money), service history (a stamped book adds confidence and dollars), condition (tidy panels, healthy tyres, clean interior), popularity (utes, hybrids and common SUVs hold value best in NZ), and finance owing(doesn't stop a sale — it just gets settled from the price).
Why trade-in offers run low
A dealer taking your trade wears every cost that follows: grooming, mechanical checks, advertising, and the weeks it might sit on the yard. Their offer prices all of that in. It's not a scam — it's just a business model that pays you least of all your options.
How to get a better price — with proof
Get the dealer's trade-in offer in writing, then bring it to us. We guarantee to beat any written trade-in offer by $500— and we still come to you, handle the paperwork, and pay the same day. If you don't have a written offer, no problem: enter your plate and we'll make you a free, no-obligation offer based on your car's actual details.