How to Increase Your Car’s Resale Value

Can you actually increase your car’s resale value? If you start your ownership experience the right way, you can stay consistent.

Your car will lose value as soon as you begin to drive it. That’s a given, but how much value will your vehicle lose? Increasing the overall value has to do with the type of driver you are and your habits in terms of maintenance and care. Additionally, if you’re concerned about the value of your car when you want to sell it, there’s something you should do before you ever buy the car in the first place.

Get your car detailed

The goal of increasing value has more to do with getting a better offer for a trade-in or when selling your car than actually seeing the value go up. That typically doesn’t happen unless you have a rare car in great condition that can cross the auction block and get you more money than you paid for it. One of the best things you can do to get a better offer is to have the vehicle professionally detailed. This could cost a little money, but the return is worth it.

Check the tires

Some experts say you should put a new set of tires on your car before selling or trading it, but that doesn’t always make sense. If you spend $1,000 on a set of tires but only get a few hundred dollars of value in return, that’s not a good investment. Check the tires and the tread. If they look good and there’s enough tread for the next driver to enjoy the car for a while, you’re fine. On the other hand, if the metal is coming through and the tread is balder than your uncle, it’s time to get some new tires on that car.

Replace worn items and fix minor damage

Minor damage and worn items can be a minor inconvenience to you, but a potential buyer or dealer will look for ways to offer you much less than the value you expect because of small issues. One of the best ways to increase your car’s resale value is to take care of these worn items and fix the minor damage that’s become a problem. The fewer issues the next person can find, the better.

Keep your service records

The day that you drive your car home is the day that your care and maintenance responsibilities begin. You need to keep excellent service records and habits, making it easy to prove that you’ve taken good care of the vehicle. This is a boon to your car’s value and will ensure you protect the amount you’ll be offered from dealers during a trade and from other buyers if you sell your car independently.

Take excellent photos

Before you post photos of your car, study the images used by dealerships and professionals to show vehicles. The angles, the lighting, and the cleanliness of the vehicles are all on purpose. The right pictures are taken under natural light, preferably with very few shadows. Try to have attractive backgrounds that aren’t too busy. You want potential buyers to focus on the vehicle, not on other things going on in the scene. The right pictures can increase your car’s resale value and get you the most out of your investment.

Avoid aftermarket modifications

Another item that should be on your list when you first buy your vehicle is to avoid adding aftermarket items. You can add some items to make yourself more comfortable, but those customization items won’t bring any return on your investment. Some modifications, such as upgraded electronics, won’t be problematic, but if you change the functionality of your vehicle, it could be a challenge for dealers when you go to trade it in.

What to do before you buy

If you want to increase your car’s resale value, there’s something you should do before you ever buy the vehicle you want to drive. Research the models and class that you’re considering and learn which vehicles typically have the highest resale value after five or ten years. The average American holds onto a vehicle for eight years, and that means you might have the car for a while. If you want to get the most back from your ride, you’ve got to do your homework before you ever buy the car in the first place.

These are just a few tips to help you increase your car’s resale value. It’s also important to keep the mileage low, avoid accidents, and have good driving habits. When it’s time to sell your current ride, you’ll get more out of it if you follow these tips.