How To Increase The Value Of Your Car

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Cars tend to naturally depreciate in value, however it is possible to add value to your car. This could be useful if you’re planning to sell your car in the near future. Here are just a few different ways in which you can improve your car’s worth.

Get your car professionally cleaned

A professional valet clean could help your car to look good as new and could add a few dollars to the selling price. Such a clean could involve vacuuming and wiping down the entire interior, as well as washing any dirt off the exterior. A professional car cleaning service may also be able to apply wax and polish to give your exterior that extra showroom shine.  While you can deep clean your car yourself to save money, a lot of people don’t have the patience or the meticulous eye for detail. Spend time shopping around for car cleaning companies to find the best quote (it’s worth also reading reviews to check that they’ve got a good reputation and that they’ll give your car a thorough clean).

Consider a private number plate

Private number plates also have the potential to add value to a car. Certain plates may have a unique appeal to certain buyers – which can give the car a precious rarity. This is an investment that usually pays off in the long run (in other words, if you’re looking to sell your vehicle soon and add some quick value it may not be recommended). There are plenty of sites that can allow you to browse available number plates.

Fix up any small dents and scratches

Repairing any damage to your car will add value, but you could spend a lot of money in the process, resulting in less potential for a return. Quite often it can cost very little to repair minor dents and scratches, however you could add hundreds to the car’s value. Shop around for repair services that specialise in these types of repairs. You may even be able to repair some dents and scratches yourself. For instance, did you know that some scratches can be removed simply using toothpaste and toothbrush.

Replace worn tires

You can also add value to your vehicle by replacing worn tires. You don’t have to spend a lot on tires – there are lots of cheap, high quality tires out there to choose from if you’re willing to look beyond the big brands. Avoid buying used tires that are partially worn as you likely won’t add any value. You can shop for brand new tires online.

Replace dim headlight bulbs

Over time, headlight bulbs can start to dim. Replacing your old headlight bulbs with some shiny new bulbs could help to add some value to your car. Replacing headlight bulbs may even be a job that you can do yourself – there are DIY guides that you can find online that can show you how to replace headlight bulbs.

Make small interior upgrades

There may be small aspects of your car’s interior that you can improve to add some value. Swapping out worn and dirty floor mats could be an easy upgrade that may add some value to your car. If seats are scuffed up, you could also consider buying seat covers to help disguise this damage. Some seat covers could even help to give your car a luxury feel.  

Get your paperwork in order

When selling a car, having all the right paperwork can make a big impact on the price you can offer. This is because having all the appropriate documentation can make you more trustworthy as a seller. Documents worth having include the car’s handbook, the service logbook and proof of ownership. There may be certain documents that you can acquire online. Offering the buyer a receipt could also help to protect you and the buyer and could help to build trust.