Top tips to help your car retain value

Though it would be nice if it wasn’t the case, nearly all cars are susceptible to depreciation. Often most felt on more expensive models, depreciation is something that you’ll nearly always have to take into account when owning a car.

While it isn’t possible to stop a car from losing some of its values, there are some steps to put in place to help limit the amount of depreciation your car incurs. These steps can also ensure that you get the best-possible price when it comes time to sell or part-exchange your vehicle.

Avoid modifications

While modifications are often a big part of car ownership - particularly for enthusiasts - going to town with extra parts and styling tweaks can often have a negative impact on your car’s resale value.

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.

Try to avoid car park dings

Accidents always happen, but there are a few ways you can help to keep your car out of the wars. One example is thinking about where you park; if it’s a tight space you’ve seen, then maybe try another spot instead of squeezing your vehicle into a spot which might result in it ending up dinged and damaged.

Scuffed and kerbed alloys are also a big-hitter when it comes to dropping a car’s price, so make sure you take your time when parking and driving around tighter streets. You may even want to consider a set of plastic alloy protectors to help keep your wheels looking as fresh as possible.

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.

Find out how much your car is worth here.