 TITLE: When Is the Right Time to Trade in a Car? CONTENT: Make Sure Your Credit Is Ready for a Car Purchase\n-------------------------------------------------\nTrading in a vehicle or selling it to a private party can give you some cash to reduce how much you borrow on your new car. But it's still important to take steps to ensure that you qualify for a low interest rate on your loan.\nTo do this, check your credit to get an idea of where you stand. If you need to make some adjustments or improvements, you can find the information you need in your credit report. You can get a free copy of your credit report from all three credit bureaus by visiting AnnualCreditReport.com. You can also get your credit reports and score for free from Experian. Improving your creditworthiness may mean getting caught up on past-due payments, paying down credit card balances, disputing inaccurate information and more.\nImproving your credit can take time, but it can also help save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars in interest on an auto loan. END