Find a used car for sale near you. For instance, if you owe $10,000 on your old car but it's only worth $8,000, the dealer will add the extra $2,000 you owe to the purchase price of the car you're buying. That money doesn't simply vanish; instead, you'll end up paying it as you pay off your new car. When trading in a used car, the dealership assumes all responsibility for the mechanical trustworthiness of the vehicle. A dealership will not contact you and ask for financial assistance to recondition the vehicle. Once the used car is in the dealership's hands, the prior owner has no further commitment to the vehicle. Trading in a Financed Car with Equity If you find that your car payments are unaffordable and you want to purchase a cheaper vehicle, having equity in your car will make a big difference. As long as your vehicle is worth as much or more than what you owe on the loan, you should be in good shape.