If you’re in any of our House of Cars locations and wondering about the trade-in value of your car, you’ve probably considered a Vehicle Trade-In at a dealership.
It’s a popular option for a reason—it’s quick and convenient. But there’s a better way to maximize your car’s worth without the hassle of selling it privately.
First, let’s break down the differences between a Vehicle Trade-In and Park & Sell
What Is a Vehicle Trade-In?
A Vehicle Trade-In is when you sell your current car to a dealership as part of buying a new or used vehicle. It’s a straightforward process:
- You bring your car to the dealership.
- They appraise it.
- They offer you a trade-in value that gets applied as a credit toward your next purchase.
For example, if you’re eyeing a used Honda in Calgary and the dealership values your trade-in at $10,000, that amount is deducted from the price of the Honda, lowering what you owe. It’s a convenient way to offload your old car and get into a new one in one go.
One of the biggest perks of a Vehicle Trade-In is the simplicity. You don’t have to deal with advertising your car, meeting strangers for test drives, or negotiating with private buyers.
Plus, in many provinces like Alberta, you only pay sales tax on the difference between the new car’s price and your trade-in value, which can save you a bit of cash.
At House of Cars, we make the trade-in process even easier by offering a hassle-free appraisal at any of our locations. We’ll inspect your car, give you a fair offer, and apply the trade-in value of your car toward one of our 1,000+ quality used vehicles—all of which come with a free Carfax history report for full transparency.
But here’s the catch: a Vehicle Trade-In often means accepting a lower offer than what you might get if you sold the car yourself. Dealerships need to resell your car at a profit, so they factor in costs like reconditioning, marketing, and their own margin. If your car’s market value is $15,000, a dealership might offer you $12,000 to cover their expenses and ensure they can sell it for a profit.
That’s where the Park & Sell program at House of Cars comes in as a game-changer.
Introducing the House of Cars Park & Sell Program
The Park & Sell program at House of Cars is designed for people who want to get more for their car without the stress of selling it privately.
Here’s how it works:
- You bring your car to one of our locations across Alberta—like Chinook or Deerfoot Meadows in Calgary, or Edmonton Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, etc—and we park it on our lot to sell it for you.
- You set the asking price, and we take care of everything else, from advertising to handling inquiries, test drives, and negotiations with potential buyers.
- Once the car sells, you get the agreed-upon amount, minus a small fee for our service.
It’s a hands-off way to sell your car while aiming for a higher payout than a typical Vehicle Trade-In. Many of our customers have even been able to sell their cars for what they still owe or more.
What makes Park & Sell so appealing is that it bridges the gap between trading in and selling privately. With a Vehicle Trade-In, you might get a quick deal, but you’re often leaving money on the table.
Selling privately could net you more—say, the full $15,000 for that car valued at $12,000 in a trade-in—but it comes with headaches like posting ads, dealing with lowball offers, and ensuring the buyer has the funds.
Park & Sell lets you set a price closer to the retail value of your car while we handle the heavy lifting. For example, if you think the trade-in value of your car is too low at $12,000 and you’d rather get $14,500, you can set that price with Park & Sell, and we’ll work to get you as close to it as possible.
We will:
- Fully inspect your vehicle
- Detail your car inside & out
- Market your vehicle online to thousands of daily visitors
- Offer warranty & financing to your customer
- Finalize the deal and do all the paperwork for you
- Take care of the sales process from start to finish
All you need to do is:
Drop your vehicle off with us and fill out the park & sell paperwork. We’ll handle the rest!
In summary, here’s why Park & Sell might be your best option:
- You have more control over the price. When you trade in, the dealership determines the trade-in value of your car based on their needs and market conditions. With Park & Sell, you decide what you want to ask for, giving you a shot at a higher return. Let’s say you have a 2019 Used BMW X5 that’s in great shape. A trade-in might get you $17,000, but by setting your Park & Sell price at $20,500, you could pocket an extra $2,500 after our fee—money that can go toward your next car or anything else you need.
- Park & Sell eliminates the stress of selling privately. If you’ve ever tried selling a car on your own, you know it’s a lot of work. You have to take photos, write a listing, post it online, answer calls and messages, schedule test drives, and haggle with buyers who might try to lowball you. Plus, there’s always the risk of scams or buyers backing out at the last minute. With House of Cars’ Park & Sell, we handle all of that for you. We showcase your car at one of our high-traffic locations, market it to our network of buyers, and manage the entire sales process. You don’t have to lift a finger—just drop off your car and let us do the rest.
- Park & Sell can be a great option if you’re not ready to buy another car right away. A Vehicle Trade-In is tied to purchasing a new vehicle, which means you’re on the dealership’s timeline. If you’re not sure what you want to buy next or you just want to sell your car and take your time, Park & Sell gives you that flexibility. You can sell your car through our program, get your payout, and then decide what to do next—whether that’s buying a used Honda from our inventory or holding onto the cash for a while.
When Is a Vehicle Trade-In the Right Choice?
That said, a Vehicle Trade-In still has its place, and for some people, it’s the better option. If you’re in a rush to get into a new car—like a reliable used Toyota from House of Cars—and you don’t want to deal with the selling process at all, trading in is the way to go. It’s a one-stop transaction: you drive in with your old car, get an appraisal, and drive out with your new one.
At House of Cars, we make it even smoother by offering competitive trade-in values and applying that amount directly to your purchase.
Park & Sell might be better than a Vehicle Trade-In if your car has negative equity—meaning you owe more on your loan than the car is worth. For example, if you owe $15,000 on your car but its trade-in value is only $12,000, House of Cars can still take the car, pay off your loan, and roll the remaining $3,000 into your new car loan.
This isn’t always the best financial move, as it increases your new loan amount. But if you can get your asking price, which would be at least the same amount as your remaining car loan, then that would be ideal. Park & Sell may be able to help you achieve that because you’re not limited to a trade in appraisal. However, keep in mind that although you can have your own asking price, it may not sell if it is too high. Our experts will help advise you on the best pricing for your car.
Whether you choose a Vehicle Trade-In or Park & Sell, there are a few things you can do to boost the trade-in value of your car.
- First, make sure your car is clean and presentable. A quick wash, vacuum, and declutter can make a big difference in how it’s perceived during an appraisal. Small repairs—like fixing a cracked windshield or replacing worn-out tires—can also increase its value, often more than the cost of the repair itself. For example, spending $200 on new tires might bump your trade-in offer by $500.
- Second, gather any maintenance records you have. A car with a documented history of regular oil changes, brake servicing, and other upkeep is more appealing to buyers, whether it’s a dealership or a private party through Park & Sell. At House of Cars, we provide free Carfax reports with all our vehicles, so we know how much a clean history can matter. Bringing your records to the appraisal can help us offer you a better trade-in value.
- Finally, do a bit of research to understand the trade-in value of your car. Websites like Canadian Black Book or AutoTrader can give you a ballpark estimate based on your car’s make, model, year, and condition. This gives you a starting point to compare against our trade-in offer or to set a realistic price for Park & Sell. At House of Cars, we pride ourselves on offering fair trade-in values, but knowing your car’s worth can help you feel confident in the process.
House of Cars makes the process seamless at our locations across Alberta, including Airdrie, Barlow Tr, Chinook, Cochrane, Macleod Tr, Medicine Hat, Olympic Park, 52nd ST, Edmonton (Argyll), Deerfoot Meadows, Lethbridge, and McKnight.
Ready to Sell Your Car with House of Cars?
Whether you’re leaning toward a Vehicle Trade-In or the Park & Sell program, House of Cars is here to help you get the most out of your car.
Visit one of our locations in Airdrie, Barlow Tr, Chinook, Cochrane, Macleod Tr, Medicine Hat, Olympic Park, 52nd ST, Edmonton (Argyll), Deerfoot Meadows, Lethbridge, or McKnight to get started. We’ll appraise your car, provide a free Carfax report, and help you decide whether trading in or using Park & Sell is the best fit.
You can also browse our 1,000+ vehicle inventory online at houseofcars.com and take advantage of our nationwide delivery if you’re not near a location.
Don’t settle for less than your car is worth.
Let House of Cars help you get the best trade-in value of your car—or more—with our Park & Sell program. We’re an AMVIC Licensed Dealer, and we’re ready to get you the deal you deserve. Come see us today!
