Five Tips To Boost Your Car Resale Value

The average driver changes their car every few years, either upgrading because they want a newer, more feature-rich model, or they have to accommodate a growing family and need more seats! That means the pre-owned market for good quality used cars is flooded with recent models, all in good condition and all with plenty of life left in them.

If you want to sell your car on, there are things you can do to increase its value. Here are our top five (well, six!) tips to boosting your car’s resale value.

Keep a full service history

Just like fine pieces of art, one of the most important aspects of a quality used car is its provenance or in this case, its service history. The more complete a service history you have for your car, the better it is as you’ll be able to demonstrate to potential buyers that the car has been well maintained and regularly serviced throughout its lifetime. Gaps in service histories can be problematic and immediately knock off some value, so make sure you’ve got all your paperwork stamped by the dealership, especially during the warranty period.

(Talking of warranties…)

Taking out an extended warranty on your car can also demonstrate to potential buyers that you’ve valued the car and taken good care of it, even beyond the usual manufacturer’s warranty period.

Regular valets

A clean car is an attractive prospect for potential buyers, so keep your car clean inside and out with regular valets. Waxing may be a pain to do, but it preserves the life of the paint (which in very hot climates can suffer real damage over time). Don’t forget to clean under the car too – places like wheel arches can accumulate a huge amount of mud and debris, while a clean engine bay also shows that you’re taking care of the heart of the car too. If you have kids then covers on the seats may prevent sticky fingers from marking fabric and devaluing the car.

Keep it simple

It might seem counter-intuitive, but tricking up a car can actually devalue it as far as the market is concerned. Those alloy wheels and engine modifications may look and sound cool, but when you come to sell it on they may put off potential buyers. The same goes for the paintwork – bright colours tend to detract customers, so stick to factory colours that blend in, rather than neon yellow spots or bright pink stripes!

If something goes wrong, fix it!

A blown bulb may be a five-minute fix, but if something isn’t working properly on a vehicle (even if it’s only superficial), it will plant a seed of doubt in the mind of the buyer and they’ll ask themselves, “What else is wrong with the car?”. From the number plate light to the glove box catch, make sure that everything is in proper working order before you advertise your car for sale.

Sell through a dealership

The days of dealerships offering you way below market value for your car are long gone. Today, respectable dealers know that high-quality, pre-owned cars represent an attractive prospect for customers, and they’re more than happy to buy your used car. Not only will you get a fair market value, but it’s a much faster process so you don’t waste time (and money) on advertising. You’ll get instant cash, too, or if your car is in really good condition then you could use it as a trade-in on a newer model. Selling through a dealership like Automall is the easiest and fastest way to get top dollar for your car, and perhaps pick up a newer model at the same time!