In response to my question about an upgrade or trade-in route from the
396 to the 496...

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Thank you for contacting Garmin:

Unfortunately, no. Garmin is a new equipment manufacturer, and we sell
our equipment exclusively through our distribution network. Because we
do not sell equipment directly, we have no market for used equipment
taken in on trade.

In a few limited cases, your Garmin dealer might consider a trade-in of
your existing model for a newer model. In such cases, there would still
be a cost associated with the purchase of the newer model. Your
trade-in price would depend on the condition of your existing GPS unit,
what accessories you have for it, and your dealer's ability to resell
it to another customer.

Best Regards,
Dustin B.
Aviation Support Specialist