If you visit your local car dealer, you’ll come across trade-in value offers that can help you swap out your old ride for a new one without breaking the bank. When you trade in your vehicle, your dealer will use your vehicle’s current value to help determine how much more you should pay out in cash.
Trade in Your Old…What?
What happens when drivers get creative with what they trade in? It turns out, if you’re in the right part of the country and work with the right type of dealer — usually local independent dealers — you might be surprised with the types of trade-ins you can get away with.
Curious about what these odd trade-ins are? We’ve got a list of some of the strangest offers drivers have put up. You might be surprised to find that some of these might actually be a fair trade!
Golf Cart or Snowmobile
If you find yourself in the right part of the country, don’t be surprised that some drivers will offer up their snowmobile or golf carts as part of their trade-in. These types of vehicles fetch a couple of thousand dollars and are a nice addition to a cash offer.
Horse and Buggy
Make your way to rural nooks of the country, and you will absolutely come across stories of
shoppers trying to swap in their horse and buggy for a used vehicle. In parts of their country
where there are dense Mennonite and Amish populations, the use of horse and buggy is
common as it’s the way to travel for these community members. So when it comes time to
upgrade your ride, why wouldn’t you trade in your horse and buggy? The next time you see a
horse hanging out at your local car dealer, you just might know why!
Tractor
This next odd trade somehow feels appropriate when compared to other trade-ins on this list. In rural areas and parts of the US like the midwest, trading in your old John Deere tractor for an SUV or pickup might not be all that out of the ordinary. Things start to get a little interesting, however, when creative farmers try cashing in on some of their more unusual farming gear. High-end leaf blowers, seeders, plows, and even wagons or trailers can be up for grabs.
Vacuum Cleaner
It’s hard to imagine exchanging a vacuum cleaner for a used vehicle as a fair trade. But if that vacuum is a Kirby, then you just might have a deal. Brand-new consumer models can easily cost upwards of $1,000. When you’re talking about commercial vacuum cleaners, that number can easily reach $5,000 to $7,000 and more. With such a high value, it shouldn’t surprise you that some people have actually tried to swap in their old vacuum for a used car.
Jewelry
It doesn’t take much imagination to see why some shoppers might consider trading in their
jewelry to get behind the wheel of a pre-owned vehicle. If you’ve got the right type of jewelry at the right value, this might be a tactic worth trying. At least others have tried, seeing as this is one of the most common unusual trade-ins dealers report experiencing.
Computer
If you ask enough dealerships, chances are you’ll find one where a driver tried to cash in on a used vehicle by offering up a computer. Can you blame them? With some high-end computer setups available on the market, why wouldn’t you try swapping it in for a vehicle instead?
Campers and RVs
Unless you’re at an RV dealership, you might not have much luck trying to trade in a
recreational vehicle for a sedan, SUV, or pickup truck. Still, it hasn’t stopped prospective drivers from trying. You might be surprised to find just how common it is for drivers to try swapping their old RV for a preowned vehicle and how many dealers actually accept this trade.
Land and/or Real Estate
This next one is definitely a head-scratcher, but if you think about it long enough, it just might be a great deal. It’s impressive how many dealerships have actually experienced land offers in exchange for a used or even new vehicle. For those dealerships that did cash in on land offers, they are certainly reaping the benefits today!
Ready to Trade Up? Check Your Garage—or Your Closet
As you can see, car dealers across the country can be persuaded to take just about anything in trade, from that snowmobile collecting cobwebs to that plot of land you were going to put a cabin on but never got around to building. If you need a car but you’re short on cash, finding something of value to trade in may be as close as your garage, closet, or attic.
This post may contain affiliate links. Meaning a commission is given should you decide to make a purchase through these links, at no cost to you. All products shown are researched and tested to give an accurate review for you.
