a way of buying a new car, computer etc in which you give the seller your old car etc as part of the payment; = part Bre:
• A dealer may accept old equipment as a trade-in on a new computer.
• They can't afford a new car because the trade-in value of the old one has dropped so much.
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trade-in UK US /ˈtreɪdɪn/ noun COMMERCE
► [C or U] a way of buying a new car, machine, computer, etc. that involves giving your old one as part of the payment for it: »
Second-hand car prices have fallen, resulting in lower trade-in values for buyers.
► [C] an old car, machine, computer, etc. that you give as part of the payment when you buy a new one: »
All our stores take cars as trade-ins.
Financial and business terms. 2012.