Heading to the dealer for a trade? Is your old car worth as much as you think it is? How can you get the most money for your old heap?

The easiest thing you can do to raise the value of your trade in is to wash it regularly from the time you buy it until the time you trade it. A clean car prevents rusting. Dirt holds moisture and contaminants can eat through paint and give rust a foothold. A clean car also shows the dealer it was cared for, and treated well. Vacuuming the interior and removing spots and stains will tell the same story. Both things would have to be done by the dealer, so that's less time and money they have to put into it.

If you don't have the time or the energy to do the work, you can have the car professionally detailed, for around $90. A detailer will wash, buff and wax your car's exterior, and will also vacuum and scrub the interior. A good detailer can have almost any vehicle looking like brand new in less than a day. This is a relatively inexpensive investment when you consider a car in good condition will get hundreds or thousands mor on a trade than one in fair condition.

You should save your repair bills when you get work done to the vehicle. That stack of papers will show the dealer if you had it checked during any recalls, and will show them what was done, and when. Also, a car with the original owner's manual is worth more than one without, so if you think it's in a desk somewhere, dig it out before going for the appraisal.

Fix any damage to the vehicle. You don't have to fix normal dents and dings, but if the vehicle has a smashed fender, for example, the dealer may knock twice the repair cost off the value. Whatever work the dealer DOESN'T have to do will be passed on to you in the form of higher trade value.

The saying "Knowledge is Power" isn't just words. If the dealers know you know what the vehicle is worth, they'll be a little more careful about coming closer to that price than if you just drove in.

Assuming the vehicle has been fixed or is already in pristine condition, you may be able to get a good idea of what it's worth with a few mouse clicks. NADA, or the National Automobile Dealers Association, puts out a yearly pricing guide, and you can also find pricing for new and used cars yourself at http://www.nada.com/. Kelly Blue Book, both in print and at www.kbb.com, will give you pricing information as well.

At either site, type in the make, model, and year of your vehicle. Check off any factory

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