How should I prepare my car for a trade-in appraisal?

Clean the car inside and out, remove personal items, and gather everything that came with it: all keys and fobs, the owner's manual, and service records. Fix tiny, cheap issues like burned-out bulbs or low fluids, but skip major repairs, since you rarely get the full cost back. Know your mileage, trim and options, and check for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Bring your registration, ID, and loan or title information so the appraisal can turn into a firm offer.