How to Improve the Value of Your Car

You probably love your car, but for most of us, the time will come when you need to sell it. This is not something that any of us do lightly, and you will want to get the largest amount possible from your sale. You might think that there isn’t much you can do to affect this, but you would be surprised. That is why we have put together our top tips on how you can improve the value of your car.

The aesthetics

We all know that first impressions count, so when you are selling your car, you need it to look as good as possible. Of course, the first thing to do is make sure that it has been thoroughly cleaned inside and out so that any potential buyers can see it in all of its glory. Then take a look at any little touch ups that you can make. Are there any scratches on the paint work that could be fixed? Do your wheels have scuffs? These can cost a little bit of money to get fixed, but they can make a big impact on the value of your car.

Don’t forget to take a good look at the interior elements of your car. You might not pay much attention to your car mats normally, but making sure you have good looking and good quality car mats in place can make the car look much newer and in much better condition, which will only help when trying to get the best price for it.

MOT and servicing

One of the first things that people will look at when buying a car is how long it has left on its MOT. An MOT is something that can cost a buyer a lot of money, so they will want a car that has as long as possible left before it needs doing. Making sure you have already done this recently will help to hold onto the value of your car.

You should also try to provide a comprehensive record of your service history. If a buyer can see that the car has been well looked after, they are more likely to feel confident in buying it. If you have had any major components changed recently, such as the cambelt, then keep the paperwork and any guarantees that you might have for it.

Mechanics

Even if the car looks great, no-one will want to buy it unless it works properly. Make sure that things such as brakes are all working efficiently, with no worrying little noises, and be prepared to go and get brake pads replaced if they are needed. A new set of tyres can also help to increase the value of your car, as this will be one more thing that your buyers do not need to worry about.

Original features

You might need to go delving in the garage, but finding an elements of the car that came with it in the beginning can be important. This could be anything from the user manual, spare tyre, tool kit and spare key to the parcel shelf, but making sure that the car is as complete as possible will impact on its value.

There will always be a ceiling when it comes to what your car is worth, but there are ways that you can maximise its value. Some of this can be done when you come to sell the car, but how it has been looked after in the years preceding that will also play a significant part in what it is worth when the time comes to say goodbye.