Top tips to help your car retain value

Depreciation is, sadly, a core part of owning and running a car. As we drive them, cars do lose their value and while it might usually affect more expensive models the most, it’s a factor that all drivers need to consider.

Though there aren’t any true ways to avoid depreciation entirely, there are some steps that you can take to lessen its impact. In this article, we’re going to be going through some of the tips and tricks that can help your car retain as much value as possible.

Avoid modifications

If you’re looking to tweak or change the look and feel of your car then modifications are usually the only way to go. However, they can also hurt your car’s value, so it’s worth thinking long and hard about whether you really need them.

A series of modifications can often suggest that a car has been driven hard during its initial years of ownership. While this isn’t always the case, it’s worth remembering when it comes to making changes to your own car. If you do go down the route of modification, make sure that they’re reversible so you can get your car back to factory standard when it comes time to sell.

Maintain routine servicing and repairs

A good level of service history is a great indicator of how a car has been treated. In order to keep your car’s resale value as high as possible, it’s worth keeping on top of routine servicing and maintenance, covering off areas such as oil and brake services according to your vehicle’s schedule. Make sure you get your service book stamped whenever you have work done, too.

Most cars have a set schedule for work to be done - often after a set number of miles - so always make sure you’re keeping to this plan. We’d advise looking out for any recalls that may have been issued for your car to be sure that it’s always kept as sharp as possible.

Keep repair work receipts

As with a car’s service history, plenty of receipts give any new buyer a great picture of how a vehicle has been looked after. It’s why we’d advise keeping hold of all documentation relating to work that has been conducted on your car.

Keep your receipts stored together whenever you have work completed on your car - regardless of how small - so you’ve got a good selection to show when it comes time to sell. Some garages and dealerships can even email these receipts to you, making documenting them a little easier than keeping paper copies stored somewhere.

Get repairs completed right away

There’s no getting away from the reality that accidents happen. Whether it be a car park-ding or something a little more serious, cars do get damaged from time to time and will require repairs. However, to help your car retain its value, it’s worth getting these repairs sorted as soon as possible.

Though it can be tempting to leave repairs until a later date, making sure that you get them sorted promptly will help maintain your car’s appearance. It’ll also mean that when it comes to sell you’re not faced with a number of fixes that require attention and money.

Usual cleaning

An easy way to keep your car looking its best is with regular cleaning. Of course, you could enlist the help of professionals to do this, but we’d argue that one of the most cost-effective ways to keep your car squeaky clean is by doing it yourself. Invest in some proper car cleaning products - including soft microfibre pads and cloths - and avoid using washing-up liquid as it can quickly strip your car’s paint and leave it looking dull.

Regular cleaning also helps to prevent the build-up of grit and grime which can often lead to rust in certain areas - though newer cars are less prone to this. Remove bird droppings as soon as you spot them on your car - they can quickly eat into the paintwork - and remember that a good hoover inside on a regular basis will pay dividends in the long run.

Reduce your mileage

A high-mileage car will almost always cost less than one with fewer miles on the clock. If you’re serious about retaining some of your car’s value, then it might be worth considering how you can reduce your mileage overall.

While that doesn’t mean you should start leaving the car behind altogether, you could think about taking alternative forms of transport for shorter journeys. Even skipping a few car-based trips each week could help keep your mileage down and, in turn, improve your vehicle’s value.

Find out how much your car is worth here.