De badge or not

[RAM Belgium]

I like my Longhorn Badge

 

[tron67j]

Do they still get the trade in sales tax credit though? Assuming they are in a state that has the credit (most do) and depending on what their sales tax is (if applicable), even if you get less than selling privately it can be more worth it to trade it in. Of course this also depends on the value of the trade in, if it isn't worth as much then it won't make as much of a difference. If your vehicle is worth 25-30k or something like that, that's a lot of money to save not paying taxes on that amount. In my state, that would save me $2400 in taxes (at 30k trade in), and being able to move right into my next vehicle seamlessly.

Normally I'm not one to recommend dealers for just about anything, but in most states it makes more sense to me to trade them in. Don't get me wrong, I do fight super hard to get the deals I want so that is part of it too, but I'd have to be getting some really low trade in offers on my truck to consider not trading.

You do not get the credit for sales tax savings that you would realize if your state provides that credit, but I have not seen dealers really give good trade-in values when somebody is buying a new vehicle. Not saying that it doesn't happen, but for the three that we traded in the value was greater to sell it out right then to actually use it as a trade-in. And it is really hard to know what your final deal was unless you do the homework first and get the value that KBB or CarMax might give, you are under no oblegation to actually go through the transaction and they give you 3 to 5 days to make a decision and the value holds for that entire period. It really is up to the individual to do all of the leg work before it deciding on if a trade into the dealer is the way to go or selling it to CarMax or even just selling it outright which of course you may end up with more. The other thing that I found I had to do to get the best deal was to search outside of the Washington metro area where I live near and actually purchase my truck in upstate New York. I saved about $3,000 on the same identical truck that I had found at multiple dealers in that large area. I will also say that you don't have to pay sales tax in the state that you buy it in if you are not a resident, sales tax is only applicable to the resident of that state, find the form online and fill it out and take it to the dealer. Then you pay the sales tax in your home state once you register your vehicle there. most states have transport tags that give you 30 days to move the vehicle from one place to another.

 

[JoeCo]

You do not get the credit for sales tax savings that you would realize if your state provides that credit, but I have not seen dealers really give good trade-in values when somebody is buying a new vehicle. Not saying that it doesn't happen, but for the three that we traded in the value was greater to sell it out right then to actually use it as a trade-in. And it is really hard to know what your final deal was unless you do the homework first and get the value that KBB or CarMax might give, you are under no oblegation to actually go through the transaction and they give you 3 to 5 days to make a decision and the value holds for that entire period. It really is up to the individual to do all of the leg work before it deciding on if a trade into the dealer is the way to go or selling it to CarMax or even just selling it outright which of course you may end up with more. The other thing that I found I had to do to get the best deal was to search outside of the Washington metro area where I live near and actually purchase my truck in upstate New York. I saved about $3,000 on the same identical truck that I had found at multiple dealers in that large area. I will also say that you don't have to pay sales tax in the state that you buy it in if you are not a resident, sales tax is only applicable to the resident of that state, find the form online and fill it out and take it to the dealer. Then you pay the sales tax in your home state once you register your vehicle there. most states have transport tags that give you 30 days to move the vehicle from one place to another.

We have a few things in common, I actually ironically got my prior truck down in Maryland, coming from upstate NY for it for the same reason, got a better deal down there. Also was a bonus that there wasn't a spot of rust on it, had low miles but still things rust up here after one winter if people are lazy about cleaning. Where I have no first hand experience for trade in value is on a brand new truck as I have always bought lightly used, but on my last two trades I did good on the first and then excellent on the second.

I may have worded it funny, but yes I understand how the sales tax credit thing works. My first two trucks were bought out of state, I brought a check for the amount for the truck, not the tax. They gave me a 30 day, and in Maryland's case, a 60 day plate (awesome!) and I had that amount of time to register the truck in NY and therefore pay the sales tax at that time. I do remember both of them trying to add the sales tax on and asking me what county I lived in to look up the tax rate, but they didn't put up a fight when I told them I would pay that back in NY. My current ram I actually found in NY, had everything I wanted down to the last option and rear gears etc and was clean enough to buy. Since we were transferring over my plates/reg and no temp tag would be issued, I did pay tax at the dealer at the time of purchase but I paid that with cash rather rather than financing. So in my case, they gave me $22k for my 2013 regular cab sport with 53k miles, and the truck I was buying was $36.5, so I paid taxes on $14.5. The difference I would have needed to break even selling privately would be getting an additional $1760 for my trade in, so nearly $24k for a 6 year old regular cab sport. I didn't think I could get that privately, our area isn't especially wealthy and regular cabs aren't in huge demand it seems so for me it was a no brainer. So many variables though, all depends on those circumstances as to what makes more sense. I was going to be happy getting 19-20k for that last trade in, so 22k I couldn't say no to.

So the question is, even if you are getting more for it privately, are you getting enough more for it to make up for the additional sales tax and the potential for issues or delays selling yours privately. With vehicles only worth 5-10k or less, I'm sure often times it would be more worth it to sell privately as it wouldn't be saving all that much on the taxes anyway. I would like to use carmax as indicator of value, but I think the closest one to me is about 2-3 hours away. I check kbb every once in a while but more so I look for the same year/similar mileage and options trucks for sale in a 250 mile radius and use that as gauge for what they are actually selling for, and what I should be fighting for on mine.

Edit: Sorry for the thread derail, didn't even notice the topic when responding back to tron. I would have kept it more tidy.

 

[GunnyZXR]

So I was going to take advantage of the Ram employee pricing but the dealership low balled me on trade. I get it they have to make it up somewhere. Anyway now that I am going to keep my truck for a while was thinking of de badging. I have a silver truck and I like the chrome letters but wonder if it would look better with out them?




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I'd get rid of those huge hideous running boards before thinking about debadging..... LOL

 

[corneileous]

I'd get rid of those huge hideous running boards before thinking about debadging..... LOL

Although I love love love my new stainless Laverne mega-steps, I actually kinda wished my limited would’ve came with those factory chrome steps instead of the ugly painted ones that came on it. Guess that’s why I wasn’t too awfully upset that day last summer when my mom accidentally drove over the phone pedestal out in the front yard and put a nice scratch all down the side of the passenger side step...lol.


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[brianw0048]

 

[BruBaker19]

I went ahead an de-badged the truck. I took off everything except the Ram on the tailgate. I used a heat gun, fishing line, a 3M eraser pad on a drill, Goof off solvent and microfiber towel.

 

[JJ Jenson]

Gentlemen I just created a Warlock Badge for my truck wanted to get some opinions and see if anyone is interested in purchasing them if I start making them. Badge will be of top quality, they will look professional and no one will know theyre home made. Price to follow when I get interest on how many to produce. See picture for details. If youre like me you'll need four (left door, right door, tailgate, glovebox)

 

[GIJoe2010]

Set of black wheels and debadge.
Idk why but debadging looks great with a set of black wheels but plain with stockers.

“You’re ****** right”



The only chrome/silver is on my center caps of my wheels, washers/nuts/bolts on my hood lights, and the antenna base.

 

[Ramm5.7]

Different truck, same debadge!!!
Im a fan of no visual or detailing obstructions!
Hemi on tow hitch for those that dont know and need to alter the tailgate badge

 

[RAMzes]

Anyone de-badge the huge RAM on the tailgate? Just like any other or is there a trick to this one?

 

[corneileous]

Anyone de-badge the huge RAM on the tailgate? Just like any other or is there a trick to this one?

I’m sure people have done it but if I’m not mistaken, to fully delete those letters it’s gonna involve filling in the two alignment holes for each letter.

Are yours the chrome ones or the body color ones? Me personally, I don’t mind the letters that are the same color of the truck but the chrome ones sure look nice on the black trucks and the white trucks.


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[Tray Burge]

I’m sure people have done it but if I’m not mistaken, to fully delete those letters it’s gonna involve filling in the two alignment holes for each letter.

Are yours the chrome ones or the body color ones? Me personally, I don’t mind the letters that are the same color of the truck but the chrome ones sure look nice on the black trucks and the white trucks.


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Too much trouble, I'd just tape it off and plastic dip it with black.

 

[BruceR41]

I bought my 2014 Big Horn and it was already debadged. Being an older guy I am a bit old school and am re-badging it. Personal preference.

 

[corneileous]

Too much trouble, I'd just tape it off and plastic dip it with black.

I take it yours are chrome? One thing about it, at least there’s no indentation in the sheet metal around where the letters go like there is around the tailgates that just have the Rams head badge.


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[RAMzes]

I’m sure people have done it but if I’m not mistaken, to fully delete those letters it’s gonna involve filling in the two alignment holes for each letter.

Are yours the chrome ones or the body color ones? Me personally, I don’t mind the letters that are the same color of the truck but the chrome ones sure look nice on the black trucks and the white trucks.


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I have a white truck and the letters are black. Doesnt look bad as it has the black headlights and wheels...so it matches. But was just wondering.

 

[Supcom1]

Paint match them to the truck. Or you could try vynyl overlays for other color options.