Depreciation is something that can’t be avoided when you own a vehicle, but it doesn’t mean that you can’t do anything to decelerate it. The value of a vehicle isn’t only dependent on how old it is, but on its condition as well. The better you take care of the vehicle, the more of its value it will retain over time. There are also things beyond maintenance that will affect how much your car will sell for. Let’s take a look at a few ways that you can help maintain your car’s value.
Don’t Smoke
If you currently smoke while driving, stop immediately if you don’t want your habit to significantly lower your car’s value. One study found that around 87% of the people surveyed would not dare touch a car that has been smoked in. Even smokers would rather have a car that was owned by a non-smoker.
So, if you smoke a lot in the vehicle, you could either smoke outside or look for alternatives like vaping. You’ll get the exact same nicotine rush as you would with a cigarette, but the smell won’t linger and the chemicals won’t seep into the car’s materials like tobacco smoke.
Have the Car Wrapped
Some people would wrongly assume that wrapping their vehicles would automatically decrease a car’s value but they couldn’t be more wrong. Unless you decide to sell the car with the wrap on, wrapping the car could help protect the car’s original paint. People will be willing to pay a premium for a car that has its original paint in great condition, which is pretty hard to get when the top layer is exposed to the elements.
With car wrapping, you could remove the wrap right before the sale and reveal the beautiful paint underneath. This is something that will certainly impress buyers. This is also a great option if you wanted an original paint job that you know wouldn’t be a hit with most sellers.
Clean the Car Often
Keeping the car clean is also extremely important. Grime and dirt can not only make the car look bad but could even start eating away at the paint or causing structural issues. This is especially true if you live somewhere where road salts are heavily used. Salt and de-icing agent deposits can be extremely corrosive and lead to rust. This is why you need to clean your car at least once a week if you want it to keep its appearance.
We do understand that not everyone has the time to clean their cars by hand, but a good car wash will do just as good of a job while protecting your car’s paint. If you are looking for a great car wash, give Sundance Car Wash a look. They operate many car washes and they’re some of the most convenient you’ll find. They have a few hand-washing stations if you still want to wash your car by hand as well as a shampoo station if you want to deep clean your vehicle, so you’ll be able to get everything done in one place for an affordable price.
Maintain the Engine
The exterior of the car is not the only thing you need to maintain, however. You also need to pay very special attention to the engine to avoid breakdowns and make sure that the vehicle runs for a long time. Your oil should be replaced every 3,000 to 10,000 miles while filters should be replaced every 15,000 to 20,000 miles. You should also rotate your tires often and go for a multi-point inspection every time you have the oil changed.
Don’t Drive it Too Often
Mileage is one of the biggest determining factors when calculating a car’s value. So, if you have the habit of using your car to run errands around your neighborhood, try to see if you could use other modes of transportation as well.
There is no point in using your car when your destination is just 4 or 5 blocks away. You should consider getting yourself a bicycle or an electric scooter if you don’t feel like walking. This will help you not only keep the mileage on your car down but allow you to save on gas as well.
If you want to know how much mileage is too much, know that the average mileage for most drivers is about 13,500 miles per year. If you’re close to that mark or near it, you should be alright, but, if your mileage is much higher than that, you will either need to cut back or be prepared to have to lower your price.
These are all things that you should do if you care about your vehicle. The better you maintain it, the more value it will retain and the easier it will be for you to sell.
Facebook Comments