Welcome to Tesla Motors Club
Discuss Tesla's Model S, Model 3, Model X, Model Y, Cybertruck, Roadster and More.
Register

Trade-in experience (AutoNation, CarMax, Private Party, etc.)

This site may earn commission on affiliate links.

ggr

Expert in Dunning-Kruger Effect!
Moderator
Mar 24, 2011
7,490
33,744
San Diego, CA
Referral Code
I just thought I'd post a data point about the (non-tesla) trade-in program. This is a deal whereby the delivery specialist can pick up your old car and take it away when delivering your new Model S. It's done with a deal with Autonation Direct. I believe it's only in California, but I'm not sure about that.

I just got rid of a Mercedes CLK 63 AMG convertible. Wonderful car, but for some reason I almost never drive it, since the Roadster is just too much fun. I wanted to do the trade-in thing. So a week before the (scheduled) delivery of the Model S, I went on the Autonation Direct web site and in about 10 minutes, supplying the VIN and options and answering questions, then waiting a day or so, I got a certificate saying they'd buy it for $27.5k. This was conditional on someone checking that the car matched the description, but I believe that's what they are trusting the Tesla delivery specialist to do. The certificate was good for 10 days and no more than 250 miles different than described. We were going to drive up to Fremont to take factory delivery, so I had to guess the miles.

I also tried AutoTrader.com, as the Kelly Blue Book website led to them. The offer was a bit less, $26.5k IIRC. (Blue Book was about $36k.)

(Un)fortunately delivery was delayed, and the certificate expired unused. But in the meantime I was getting lots of phone calls from the headquarters of Autonation in Florida, wanting to get their hands on the car. I figured it must be worth more than they were offering. Well, of course, since they have to make a profit, but you know what I mean.

So when delivery was again getting close, I got another certificate from Autonation Direct, but told Peter (our Delivery Specialist) that I was going to look around a bit more. He said "Gee, I'd hate to have to change the delivery contract again, it might delay delivery", and since paying for the Model S was not contingent on getting the trade-in, I said "OK, forget the trade-in then." Peter said "You might also try CarMax."

So I found the local CarMax, and made an appointment to go in and have the car appraised. I was running early for the appointment, and the Merc dealer I bought the car from 5 years ago was just down the road, so I dropped in. The guy there was mumbling something about "absolute maximum $28k, but we probably have to fix the brakes, that's about $5k, but maybe not, make an appointment to leave the car with us for a day for us to check everything out."

I went up to CarMax, and in about 20 minutes had a certificate in hand for $31k. Went back later that evening (they're open until 9pm!) and swapped the car for a bank draft. That took another 20 minutes or so. Very painless, and a much better price. Got a call from the Mercedes guy later, and when I said I'd been to CarMax, he said "Good for you... go with them."

Someone is getting a great deal on a fantastic used Mercedes. :-(.
 
ggr,

Thanks for the info. I've been planning CarMax for my trade-in, unless Tesla can get a good enough trade-in price to make up for the difference through paying less taxes. I'm glad to hear your experience there. I've heard nothing but good things.

For anyone interested, there's a CarMax about 10 minutes from the Dania store in Florida.
 
ggr,

Thanks for the info. I've been planning CarMax for my trade-in, unless Tesla can get a good enough trade-in price to make up for the difference through paying less taxes. I'm glad to hear your experience there. I've heard nothing but good things.

For anyone interested, there's a CarMax about 10 minutes from the Dania store in Florida.

Tesla are not offering trade-ins in FL right now. They are advising that you should sell your car yourself for the best price.
 
Just to clarify (not that it affects me personally, it doesn't); am I to understand that Tesla only offers to do trade-ins through an outside dealer?
Does this apply to people who trade in Tesla Roadsters, which I suspect Tesla knows how to resell? :wink:
 
On my MVPA, a trade-in value is treated as a downpayment--it's subtracted at the very end and won't lower the amount of sales taxes you pay on the car. At least, this is how it is in California.
According to CarMax this offset treatment is not universal. CarMax states that the following states allow the offset (oddly, they don't list California):
Alabama
Arizona
Colorado
Connecticut
Florida
Georgia
Illinois

Indiana
Kansas
Kentucky
Maryland
Mississippi
Missouri
Nebraska

Nevada
New Mexico
North Carolina
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Wisconsin
 
Just to clarify (not that it affects me personally, it doesn't); am I to understand that Tesla only offers to do trade-ins through an outside dealer?
Does this apply to people who trade in Tesla Roadsters, which I suspect Tesla knows how to resell? :wink:

Tesla is taking a fair number of Roadster trade-ins for the Model S; there's no third party involved. They've also staffed up the Menlo Park store here in CA to have a "certified, pre-owned Roadster sales" program with my favorite Tesla rep, Arielle Bosch, at the helm! Last Saturday, I spotted atleast 4 Roadsters that were traded in - one a beautiful sky blue one (resembled NigelM's), another a racing green (a 2008 one, quoted by Arielle at $82k), a third, red one and a fourth, gray one that someone took out for a test drive as we were watching. There were several Roadsters in the service bay, some of which may indeed be for sale.
 
The numbers I have for trading in my Roadster are ... quite disappointing. A several-hour-long inspection must also be performed prior to determining the final price.
I'm going to Carmax tomorrow to see what they'll offer. If that doesn't pan out, my yearly service is due (awful timing!) so I'm scheduled to head to NYC Saturday for the maintenance as well as the inspection. We'll see how that goes.
The trade-in number is non-negotiable (I tried).

BTW Mass. has a trade-in allowance, too. And even factoring that in, it still makes me cringe to go with the trade-in program. :crying:
 
According to CarMax this offset treatment is not universal. CarMax states that the following states allow the offset (oddly, they don't list California)...

Actually not oddly. If you look closely at mulder1231's original post he said that CA doesn't lower the tax. I think you might have been fooled by a sort of double-negative description in his post.
 
The numbers I have for trading in my Roadster are ... quite disappointing. A several-hour-long inspection must also be performed prior to determining the final price.
I'm going to Carmax tomorrow to see what they'll offer. If that doesn't pan out, my yearly service is due (awful timing!) so I'm scheduled to head to NYC Saturday for the maintenance as well as the inspection. We'll see how that goes.
The trade-in number is non-negotiable (I tried).

BTW Mass. has a trade-in allowance, too. And even factoring that in, it still makes me cringe to go with the trade-in program. :crying:

What is the Mass trade-in allowance?
 
ggr, thanks for posting; good food for thought. When I got my MVPA I wondered how the TESLA program worked. I haven't really thought through what I'm going to do but now I'm certainly going to entertain carmax. I actually have two options: 1) sell my 2002 Sequoia (47K miles), or 2) sell my wife's 2003 Odyssey (130K miles) & give her the Sequoia. Keeping the Sequoia is my first choice but we both like the way the Odyssey drives better and we're thinking the Sequoia will have a better cash value (it's in much better shape). The decision will be easier if I get two quotes for the two options. Thanks.