Will a dealer buy my car even if I'm not buying from them?

Yes. Most franchised dealers will purchase a vehicle outright without requiring you to buy a replacement car from them. They do this because they need used inventory for their certified pre-owned programs. You walk in, they appraise the car, and if you accept the offer they write you a check. The experience is similar to selling to CarMax. Independent dealers and used car lots also buy outright. Where the pressure tactics tend to emerge is when a salesperson uses the trade-in as leverage to sell you a new vehicle simultaneously, bundling both deals in ways that make it harder to evaluate each separately.