When you purchase a car, there is usually nothing but excitement in your mind. You get to roll out of the lot with a bright, shiny, new vehicle and that new car smell. Fast forward 5, 10, 15, 20 years down the road and you are no longer excited but rather exhausted trying to get most money back for your car. It’s easy to get frustrated with how little dealers and buyers are willing to pay for your used vehicle. However if you’re willing to do some due diligence along the way you can increase the resale value of your car.
Here are 3 ways to preserve the resale value of your car.
Create a Paper Trail
One of the most important things a car owner can do, is perform regular maintenance on their car. Whether you’ve purchased your own oil or brought it to a dealership, regularly scheduled oil changes are essential to keeping the engine in peak shape. When it comes time to selling your car, you need to have proof that you were a responsible owner.
Make it a priority to keep a folder with receipts or invoices that prove you performed the necessary maintenance on your vehicle. Sure it is a minor inconvenience to file away every piece of paper relating to your car, but that minor inconvenience can turn into a major increase in resale value. You can also get vehicle history reports from CarFax or Experian to show the records or ownership.
Beauty is On the Outside and Inside
When it comes to selling your car, looks can make all the difference. Your engine could be in pristine condition but if you have rusted wheel wells, faded paint, or torn seats, you are drastically decreasing the resale value.
Not all cosmetic fixes will be worth it, however the simple or cheap ones should definitely be done. One of the expensive fixes could be replacing a torn seat. However, if you have a car that has seats in good condition, you should definitely do some preventative protection with Wet Okole’s car seat covers. Our stylish car seat covers are customizable, look great, and protect your car seats from dirt, spills, harmful UV rays, and much more. Having car seats in great condition will definitely help the resale value of your car.
Avoid the Road Trips
If you’ve ever purchased a used car, you know that one of the selling points is the mileage. Sure the year of the car matters, but the mileage might be more important to most people. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, annual mileage is about 13,500 per year on average. So, the more miles you drive the more you resale value will decrease. Comparing two identical cars in the same condition, the mileage will determine the overall resale value. So if you are putting 20,000 mile per year on your car, you are far above the average.
Our best advice is to walk or ride a bike when you can. Those short trips to the minimart at 6 miles round trip can add up in the long run. Drive when necessary to reduce your overall mileage.
For more information about protecting the seats of you car, visit our website or call us at 888-246-5653.