Having the car of your dreams isn’t as unattainable as it once used to be. More companies are now even offering people with bad credit car finance, so you can still have a new car no matter your situation. However, once you have your car, you may be wondering how best you can look after it to ensure it doesn’t depreciate in value. Here are some top tips so you can keep your car at the best value you can.
Maintain The Paintwork
Most people will take their car to a drive-through car wash once it starts getting noticeably dirty, but really you should be cleaning your car way more often. You also want to make sure that your car has a protective wax layer regularly applied too as this will help keep the paintwork in good condition. If you don’t look after the paintwork, the resale value of your car will decrease significantly. Paintwork is also easily damaged if it isn’t properly cared for. Sun damage can be hard to fix, so make sure you take good care of the exterior.
Look After The Wheels
One thing that potential buyers will look for is good wheels. The rubber can wear out or pop on occasion, but this can be easily fixed. What you need to keep on top of is the alloy and prevent it from rusting. Your wheels take the brunt of the outdoors and are hit hard by all different elements, so make sure you keep them clean and free of debris to ensure they don’t drag the value of your car down.
Keep The Lights Scratch-Free
An overlooked part of a car is often the lights. The head and tail lights can easily become scratched and covered with dust, which not only dulls their appearance but can decrease your car’s value. Make sure when cleaning them that you go for products that are specially made for car lights as this will ensure you leave them sparkling clean.
Interior Is Important
If you think about how many hours you’ve spent sitting inside your car, it’s no wonder the interior doesn’t look quite as good as when you first bought it. However, if you start caring for it early, you can retain more of its original state. When cleaning the interior, don’t just rely on doing a quick hoover and wipe down. Instead, use different cleaners for different areas. For example, use proper glass cleaner on the windows and fabric cleaner on leather seats. Taking proper care of the materials the interior is made from will increase their longevity and keep their resale value high.
Don’t Leave Problems Until It’s Too Late
If you notice any small issues with your car, whatever you do, don’t ignore them. These small issues could escalate and cause major problems down the line. These problems can then be expensive to fix and decrease the value of your car significantly. Make sure that you get your car checked regularly so you can ensure that not only is your car safe, but it’s also still in good shape and will retain its value.
Keep Any Necessary Documents
When you have a car, there are lots of documents that come with it. For example, MOT certificates are important when reselling a car as the buyer wants to make sure that it’s in good condition. If you aren’t able to produce these documents, you may end up having to decrease the selling price of your car. Having all the necessary documents will help you keep your car’s value where it should be.
Preserving the value of your car isn’t simple and does require work to ensure it stays in the best possible condition. Looking after your car is also beneficial for your safety, so performing all the necessary checks isn’t really any extra effort. If you’re wanting to retain the value of your car as best you can, make sure you spend some time each week caring for it inside and out.