The process of buying a new car (whether brand new or used) is always exciting, especially if you’ve been willing your old car to keep going for just one more mile for the past few months. While you don’t need to think about your next car after this one, you should still consider how to help it maintain its value so you can get a good amount for it when it’s time to sell.
Buy From Reputable Dealers
The easiest way to make sure your car will keep its value when it’s time to sell is to look at the source. Reputable car dealers will give you a good deal every time. They won’t try to take you for a ride, nor will they hide issues that you’ll soon discover, likely at the worst possible time.
A good car dealer should have everything ready for you to take with you, including the vehicle’s history and maintenance logs. This information gives you a good idea of the car’s current condition, allowing you to keep it at this level for as long as possible.
Keep It Clean
Everyone who purchases a new vehicle tells themselves that this is the one they take care of. But, long journeys, messy kids, and abject laziness often get in the way, and soon, there are crisp packets, scrunched-up receipts and half your garden covering the floors.
The longer you leave this, the more challenging it will be to clean, and the messiness will lower the car’s value. Learn some basic detailing and establish a cleaning routine early to keep your car as clean as possible, ensuring it looks as good as new.
Get Your Documents In One Place
Future buyers will want to see your car’s journey. They want to know how far it has travelled and whether there have been any significant issues discovered in the MOT. If you take care of your car, you’ll hopefully have nothing to worry about besides general wear and tear.
You should also keep all your documents in one place, making it easy to hand them over once the sale is complete. Any missing documents could be cause for concern, which impacts the car’s value, and may lose you the sale altogether.
Avoid Accidents and Collisions
This point sounds obvious, but it’s easier said than done. You can be the world’s most careful driver, but this won’t account for other drivers.
It’s worth looking after your car regardless by learning how to remove scratches yourself which will keep the body in top condition. You should also drive sensibly to reduce damage to the brake pads or clutch, but as a mature adult, your boy racer days are (hopefully) well behind you.
Great Value
Many will tell you that every car immediately loses 10% of its value as soon as it leaves the lot. This is all the nature of the business. Still, this doesn’t mean you can’t do as much as possible to maintain your vehicle and ensure it retains its value. When it’s time to say goodbye, you’ll know you’ll get a respectable price for it.
