Should You Trade In Now or Wait After the Election?

The short answer

For most people, waiting on the election doesn't help your trade. The AP reports Democrats won both chambers of Congress, but the new Congress doesn't start until January 2027. Your trade's value depends on your car and the local market, and your car keeps adding miles while you wait.

What an election can and can't do to your trade

New laws take time, and the president can veto bills until his term ends in January 2029. Section 232 tariffs on imported cars, which the Congressional Research Service lists at 25% (15% for Japan, South Korea and the EU), are still in place. So there's no known change coming that would raise your trade's value next week.

What does move your number

• Miles and age. Each month adds both.
• Condition and records. See do service records help when you sell.
• How many dealers bid. One offer is one opinion.

A simple way to decide

1. Find out what your car is worth today from more than one dealer.
2. Compare that to your payoff, if you have a loan.
3. If the number works, act. If not, you've lost nothing by checking.

Not sure whether to trade or sell outright? Read trade-in vs. selling outright.

With PriceForMyTrade, you send your vehicle details in about 30 seconds. Participating local dealerships contact you directly, and first responses typically come the same day (not guaranteed). Offers are confirmed after a physical appraisal. You don't have to buy another car, and it's free to you. See how competing offers work.

Want to know what your trade is worth today? Get competing offers.