10 ways to increase resale value of your car

10 Ways To Increase Resale Value Of Your Car

• Have a recent MOT & Service

  You’ll get more money out of your new buyers if they know that the vehicle they are buying has a healthy history and have as long as possible before they will need to pay out for a service or MOT themselves.

• Refurbish your alloys

  Scuffs on alloy wheels are a part of life but when you’re coming to sell your car any damage it has will be used against you to knock the value down. Having the wheels refurbished and looking their best will help you achieve as much value as possible.

• Get new tyres

  If your tyres are visibly worn down, it will either put off potential buyers or give them reason to ask for a discount. It’s always worth investing in new tyres before you list your car for sale.

• Valet your car

  Whether you clean it yourself or not, having your car valeted shows it off in its best light and means that you’re much more likely to get the best possible price for it. Cleaning the inside and out of it will leave a much better impression on your potential buyers.

• Replace any worn items

  If your car mats are wearing thin, or the badges on your vehicle have seen better days, buying replacements online and fitting them yourself can help your car look much more polished when it comes to selling.

• Repair the windshield

  Chips and cracks on the windscreen will be a red flag for many potential buyers. Prevent putting people off by having these repaired or have your windshield replaced to increase car value even more.

• Restore paintwork

  Your car’s paint job could have deteriorated over time, so having your car painted or wrapped will make it shine and give it an instant boost in value.

• Recharge the air con

  Air con overtime loses its effectiveness because it uses gas to cool the air it pumps out, having your car re-gassed means that when someone comes to test it that it will be ice cold and a key selling point.

• Window Tints

  Many buyers see tinted windows as a desirable asset to have on vehicles, in many cases it increases the value because it helps the car to remain cool, increases privacy and improves the look of many cars.

• Replace the brakes

  Brake safety is bound to be at the top of your potential buyers’ wish-lists especially when replacing them can be costly. Having your current brakes replaced with new, high-quality brake pads will offer peace of mind and bump up your car’s value.

What causes a car to increase in value?

Here are some of the ways in which the value of a car can increase:

• Increased demand

  If there’s a shortage for a certain vehicle or range of vehicles, this will push up the demand and inevitably the price for it.

• Enhancing the car

  One way to increase the value of a car is by adding performance enhancements. This can be as simple as changing the air filter to a more performance-focused one or upgrading the exhaust system.

Another way to add value to a car is by modifying its appearance. This can be anything from adding a body kit, new wheels or even just a new paint job. Making the car look unique will also make it more desirable to buyers, in some cases.

Be warned, if you’re not careful about the modifications you choose to make you could get back less money than you invested on installing them.

What causes a car to decrease in value?

There are many things that can cause a car to decrease in value but some are more common than others.

• Age

  As a vehicle gets old it starts to need more maintenance and becomes outdated in terms of tech.

• Mileage

  The more miles a vehicle has done the more it will depreciate, this is because it becomes less desirable than like-for-like models that have less mileage.

• Condition

  Another reason a car's value may decrease is because of damage. If the car has been in an accident or has sustained other types of damage, its value will be lower than a car that has not been damaged.

Can cars appreciate in value?

There are instances where cars can appreciate in value, this can happen on high end desirable vehicles where demand is greater than the supply, specifically for limited edition supercars but also has happened during the production shortages impacting even generic mainstream vehicles.

There is another instance where a vehicle can appreciate in value, if you have bought a niche vehicle at the bottom of the depreciation curve then it can appreciate in value. This can happen with vehicles like a classic Porsche or now that lots of vehicles are going towards forced induction, there’s increased demand for high performance naturally aspirated engine vehicles.

How to get the best price for your car

Selling a car can come with a ton of potential pitfalls, especially when it comes to getting the best possible price for your vehicle. From lowball offers made by car salespeople during a part-exchange, to paying the various fees involved with listing a car with classified ad websites.

At webuyanycar, we’ve quickly become the UK’s favourite online car buying service, and we have plenty of car buying experts on our team who can help you get the best price for your car. Here are some handy tips you can use before selling to ensure you can get as much money as possible when it comes time to sell.

• Condition

  One of the most obvious, yet impactful factors to consider when selling your car is the current condition of the vehicle, and how you present it to a potential buyer. If the car has obvious cosmetic damage such as deep scratches, a cracked windshield or broken wing mirrors, these are likely to reduce the amount a buyer is willing to pay for the vehicle, particularly if the car has been in an accident.

  To get the best price for your car, repair as much cosmetic damage to the vehicle as possible and ensure the interior and exterior areas are clean and presentable. If you’re aiming for a private sale, you may benefit from replacing the car’s mats if they are currently too worn and dirty to simply clean.

• Service history

  A vehicle’s service history can also have an impact on how much money you can get for your car. A full or complete service history informs the buyer of any work carried out on the car, as well as any historical faults or issues with the vehicle. The less service history a car has, the less informed the buyer becomes about the vehicle, and therefore the purchase becomes somewhat riskier.

  To keep the value of your car as high as possible, be sure to keep hold of all MOT and service records which can be passed over when the vehicle is sold.

• Plate changes

  Selling your car before the annual ‘plate change’ will ensure your car is not considered a ‘year older’ when compared against a more recent range of vehicles. For example, a ’62 plate’ car (produced in 2012) would have been the latest in its line, until the release of the ’63 plate’ models a year later.

  There are two annual plate changes each year as there are two sets of ‘age identifiers’, which are the two numbers in the centre of the Registration Number.

  Vehicles from March - If the vehicle was made in March, the year will be displayed by two digits which represent the last two digits of the actual year the car was made. For example, plates produced in March of 2016 will feature two digits reading ‘16’, as in ‘2016’. The plate change for these cars occurs on the 1st of March each year.

  Vehicles from September - Vehicles that are produced in September will also feature two digits which represent the year; however in this case we use the digits from above, and add 50. For example, cars made in September 2015 will feature a ‘65’, because 15+50 = 65. The plate change for these cars occurs on the 1st of September each year.

  So, if you’re looking to sell your car in the near future, be sure to consider when the next plate change will occur and aim to sell it before that date to avoid any annual devaluation.

  These simple tips can be hugely effective when looking to get the most money for your car at resale.

Sell your car in under an hour

Selling your car privately can often be more hassle than it’s worth – especially if you feel that your car needs several of the modifications above to sell for a good price.

Why not save your time, money and effort by selling your car in just three simple steps with webuyanycar? You can enter your reg number now and get a free car valuation in as little as 30 seconds, then book an appointment at one of our 500+ local branches.

At your appointment, we’ll assess your vehicle and give you a final quote – whether or not you sell is entirely up to you. If you decide to sell, you can do it under an hour and have the money in your bank in as little as three days.

Enter your reg number now to get started.