Trading in a vehicle?

I was just wondering when you can trade a vehicle, I've geen told anytime. Also been told, after a year etc… So when can you trade one in? And if you have to stay with the same dealer like ford to Chevy

Pay off the vehicle first. Maybe you will like NOT making payments on your vehicle and have money to visit Hawaii soon.

It should be paid off. And, most dealers will take whatever model or year you are trading. If it's quite old, goes to a wholesaler.

You can trade it in at any time but I do agree you should keep it until it is paid off.

You can trade in a vehicle at anytime as long as it doesn't have a lien against it ( you still owe money ).

Now, it's still possible to trade in a vehicle with a lien but it's more complicated and you have to have a good credit rating to be able to do it. It's also not a very financially sound idea as you will likely be low-balled on the trade-in value and/or be charged all sorts of fees for the privilege of ending the previous vehicle loan early.

Dealers will take in pretty much anything. It doesn't have to be a vehicle from the same manufacturer. If it's not a vehicle they can or will want to sell on their own used car lot, it ends up going off to a wholesaler or to auction.

Trade in a car when the oil consumption is in excess of one quart every fifty miles.
Well that was what an old taxi cab driver told me.
If the vehicle is leased- forget it! Some people lease a car and are under the misunderstanding that they are the buyer. No the bank is the buyer and getting out of a lease is expensive. When the lease is up, the person leasing the car has nothing to show for it except maybe some additional charges because of damage done or being over miles.
Car dealerships like for car buyers to buy a car every year. It keeps the inventory turning over which provides a means by which a salesman can earn a living.
To me the only time to trade cars is when they are worn out, as in excess of 250000 miles. I arrived at that number because several of my cars lasted that long. After I pay one off, the payments I would have made go into an account to buy things with cash, like new cars or car parts to keep the old one running.

When I was buying Foreign Models, I had a new car every 3 years, I had 3 year loans. I traded to a new model when I had one or two payments left.
My last car was demolished by a broadside collision, I took the cash and bought a Used US auto. Never owned a New car again.
Now I buy (Paid in Full) $4,000 used, and drive them for 10 more years. Saving a ton of money on insurance and no loan interest.

When I was buying new, the dealers rolled over the remaining payments to the new loan.

You can trade in a vehicle at anytime and with any dealer.

If the car is fully paid for, you can trade any time you want -- at any dealer for any other car.

Just be aware that when you purchased, you paid retail price. When you trade, a dealer only gives you wholesale price. Also be aware that your car is not worth the price you paid for it -- it's value has depreciated the longer you've owned it and the more miles you have driven.

You can trade it in anytime but it might cost you money to do so, especially if you haven't had it very long. I suggest keeping it and paying it off and waiting until it fully dies to get a new one but you can trade it in a day after you get it if you don't mind paying for the privilege.

If you are trading in a vehicle independent of buying a new vehicle, a dealer or buyer will determine the wholesale value of your vehicle and then deduct another several hundred dollars from that. You will really get shafted if you do not sell it yourself. Go to KBB.com to determine retail and wholesale values and start with a price halfway between those two numbers. Also look on Autotrader.com for comparable prices near you.