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This is a collaborative post.
According to figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, the number of used car transactions grew by over 10% in 2021.
With such high demand for second-hand cars, it’s a great time to sell your car. Yet, with high demand comes competition; and without some key details, you may find your vehicle brings in less than it’s worth.
If you do choose to sell your car, you’ll want to make sure that you sell it for the right about of money. With that in mind, here are three indispensable ways to maximise your car’s value before you sell it.
Service your car
Servicing your car can often feel like a chore. In fact, many Brits gave up on passing MOT during lockdown while they were unable to use their cars.
Another reason that many car owners avoid essential car servicing is that they consider it to be a financial burden.
Yet, apart from ensuring that your vehicle is safe to drive and keeping you out of breakdowns or accidents – which can cost something even dearer than money – servicing is properly viewed as a way to stop your car from depreciating.
When technicians inspect the various working parts of your car and ensure that they’re functioning properly, they help to extend its longevity and therefore help it to retain its value.
Provide paperwork
Even if you’ve taken the best care of your car since you bought it, you’ll have no way to prove it without the proper paperwork. In this case, you wouldn’t be able to ask for your car’s real value, since buyers would have no assurance that it’s in the good condition that you know it is.
To avoid this frustrating scenario, you need to keep the right documents that show that you’ve regularly serviced and maintained your car throughout its history, as well as any legal documentation pertaining to your car.
Put your best foot forward
First impressions count. To make sure it’s a good one, you’ll want to make sure that your car is in its best condition before putting it on the market. Give it a deep clean, inside and out, to help it put its best foot forward.
Your car’s future owners probably won’t want the burden of spending time and money to refurbish it themselves. It’s on you to fix any dents, scratches or other blemishes that will lower your car’s value.
Add finishing touches
Finally, it’s time to go the extra mile and invest in some extra details to boost your car’s value. Buy new seat covers, replace floor mats or even install a new radio or AUX port.
What do you look for when buying a used car? Let us know in the comments below.