BILLINGS · LEWISTOWN · STOCKTON
Get Your Car's Trade-In Value
Two ways to find out what your car is worth to us. See an offer online right now, or ask one of our stores in Billings or Lewistown, Montana, or Stockton, California, for a firm offer in person.
Online, right now
See your trade-in offer online
- 1Tap the button. WebBuy, the online buying tool our stores use, opens right here on this page.
- 2Look up your car by license plate or VIN, or enter it by hand, then answer a few questions about its condition and any loan.
- 3See your trade-in offer. The store confirms it when it inspects the car.
Free, and you do not have to buy anything.
In person, from a store
Get a firm offer from a store
Send us your car's details. A person from the store will get in touch, look at the car and give you a firm offer.
Ask a store for a firm offer
Three short steps. A person at the store reads every request and contacts you to arrange a time to see the car.
What affects your trade-in value
Whether you get an online offer or an in-person one, these are the things that move the number.
Mileage
Fewer miles than usual for the car's age means a higher offer. Very high miles bring it down.
Condition
Dents, worn tires, cracked glass, warning lights and smoke or pet smells all come off the offer. Mechanical problems cost the most.
Accident and title history
A reported accident lowers the value. A salvage or rebuilt title lowers it a lot.
Trim and equipment
A higher trim, 4x4 or all-wheel drive and factory options add value. Most aftermarket changes add little, and some lower it.
Local demand
A store values your car partly on how easily it can sell it again, so the same car can be worth more in one town, or one season, than another.
Keys and records
Service records show the car was looked after. A missing key or fob can come off the offer, because replacements are expensive.
If you still owe money on the car, the store pays off the loan. What goes toward your next car is the offer minus what you owe.
What to bring
- The car, and every key and fob you have
- The title, if you own the car outright
- If you still owe money on it: your lender's name and your loan account number, so the store can get the payoff amount
- Your current registration
- Photo ID. If more than one person is named on the title, call the store first to ask whether they need to come too
- Service records, if you have them
Before you hand over the keys, take out your things and unpair your phone from the car.
Trade in, or sell it yourself?
Selling it yourself
Usually gets you more money. You handle the ads, the calls, test drives with strangers, getting paid safely and the title paperwork, and if you still owe on the car, paying off the loan before the buyer can get the title.
Trading in
Usually gets you less than a private sale, but it is one visit. The store handles the title paperwork and the loan payoff, and the value goes straight toward your next car.
Trade-ins and sales tax in Montana and California
You may have heard that trading in saves sales tax, because you only pay tax on the difference between the two cars. That is true in some states. It is not how it works at any of our stores, for two different reasons.
Montana (Billings and Lewistown)
Montana does not have a general sales tax, so there is no sales tax on the car you buy for a trade-in to reduce. Your trade-in's value, minus anything you still owe on it, still comes off what you pay or borrow.
California (Stockton)
California charges sales tax on the full selling price of the car you buy, and the trade-in cannot be deducted from it. Buy a $30,000 car and trade in one worth $10,000, and the sales tax is still worked out on $30,000. The trade lowers what you pay, but not the tax.
Source: California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, tax guide for motor vehicle dealers
Rules can change, so ask the store to show you the tax on your deal before you sign. More detail: buying a car in Montana and buying a car in California.
Trade in at our stores in Billings, Lewistown and Stockton
Rimrock Subaru in Billings, the three Rimrock Snowy Mountains stores (Chevrolet, CDJR and Ford) in Lewistown, and Nissan of Stockton all take trade-ins. Call ahead and they can have someone ready to look at your car.
Billings, Montana
Rimrock Subaru
- Rimrock SubaruSubaruSales: 406-651-5200
Lewistown, Montana
Rimrock Snowy Mountains Chevrolet, CDJR and Ford
- Rimrock Snowy Mountains ChevroletChevroletSales: 406-707-6034
- Rimrock Snowy Mountains CDJRChrysler, Dodge, Jeep, RamSales: 406-350-6884
- Rimrock Snowy Mountains FordFordSales: 406-707-6048
Stockton, California
Nissan of Stockton
- Nissan of StocktonNissanSales: 209-307-9260
Ready to see what your car is worth?
Get an online offer now, or .
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get my car's trade-in value online?
Tap "Get your trade value now" at the top of this page. It opens WebBuy, the online buying tool our stores use, right here on ez.car. Look up your car by license plate or VIN, answer a few questions about its condition and any loan, and WebBuy shows you a trade-in offer. You do not need to pick a car to buy first. If it cannot make an offer online, it lets you book an appraisal instead.
Is the online trade-in offer final?
It is an offer subject to inspection. The store checks the car before the deal is done, and the offer can change if it finds significant issues that were not described. If you would rather have a firm number from the start, use the store form on this page and the store will arrange to see the car.
Can I trade in a car I still owe money on?
Yes. The store pays off your loan as part of the deal. If your car is worth more than you owe, the difference goes toward your next car. If you owe more than it is worth (negative equity), the rest can often be added to the loan on your next car, depending on loan approval.
Does trading in lower my sales tax in Montana or California?
Not at our stores. Montana has no general sales tax, so there is no sales tax for a trade-in to reduce. California charges sales tax on the full selling price of the car you buy and does not let the trade-in be deducted from it. In both states your trade-in still lowers the amount you pay or borrow.
What do I need to bring to trade in my car?
The car and every key and fob you have, the title if you own the car outright, your lender name and loan account number if you still owe money on it, the current registration, photo ID, and any service records you have.
Do I have to buy a car from you to trade mine in?
Not always. Our stores can often buy a car outright even if you are not buying one from us, but it depends on the car. Call the store nearest you to ask.
