We all know that the value of a new car drops as soon as you drive it out of the showroom. There are however, things that you can do to maximise the sales price of your car when it comes time to sell or trade it in on a new model.
The more money you can achieve for your current car, if you are selling it, the more money you have to spend on your new car. On the other hand, if you are trading it in for a better model, the greater the trade-in price, the more you save on your new car.
So, here are six strategies that will help you to maximise the sales price or trade-in value of your car.
1. Keep the mileage under control
The lower the mileage, the higher the resale price or trade in value of your car, so it pays to time the sale of your car correctly. There seems to be a psychological barrier at 100,000 km and above this mileage the resale price of your car drops dramatically, so consider selling it or trading it in while it’s still below this figure.
2. Get regular servicing
Make sure that you stick to the servicing schedule and have all the services signed off by a qualified mechanic in the logbook. Cars that have not had regular servicing will be suspect in the eyes of a buyer, reducing it’s value because they really have no idea whether the services were actually performed or not. Keep all servicing and repair receipts in your logbook, so a buyer knows that the car has been maintained well.
3. Always drive safely
Collision repairs can easily be spotted by an expert (even professional repairs), which will lower its resale value. So always drive safely and if you do have an accident, makes sure that you use a qualified mechanic or body repair shop for the repair work. Keep all receipts and don’t attempt to cover up previous damage, as this will make buyers suspect that there might still be problems with the car.
4. Wash and clean it regularly
If you always keep the interior and exterior of your car clean, it will extend its life. Bird and bat droppings can ruin the paintwork, and dirt and debris can remove the sheen from the paintwork. Internal stains can be difficult to remove if left to dry and debris can collect in crevices that can be difficult to remove. It also helps if you park your car in a garage or carport to protect it from the weather.
5. Don’t smoke
A non-smoker can smell a smoker’s car from a mile away and won’t buy it. Smoke gets into everything, from the seat fabrics to the air-conditioning, visors and headlining. So never smoke in your car, not if you want a realistic resale value.
6. Install window tinting
Window tinting will help to extend the life of the internal furnishings, because it prevents up to 99% of the suns harmful rays entering the car. So the interior of the car won’t fade in the sunlight and will continue to look new and fresh. Buyers also like car window tinting because it’s makes the car cooler inside and increases their privacy when driving. This is one upgrade that helps to increase the resale value of your car.
For professional car window tinting, call us on 03 9724 9111.