Here’s How To Retain & Maintain Your Car’s Value – 7 Simple Steps

Key takeaways:

• Retain your car’s value by taking care of its interior and exterior
• Use a car cover to protect your vehicle from the elements.
• Ensure that your car documentation is up to date.
• Get regular tune-ups and oil changes. Your vehicle will operate more smoothly and effectively by doing this.
• Keep track of your mileage and service records to show potential buyers that you have taken care of the car.
• Avoid customization, as this can devalue your vehicle.

No matter how much money you spend on a car, you won’t get all of it back. Vehicles start losing their resale value soon after going off the dealer’s lot. While you can’t stop a vehicle’s depreciation, you can minimize it by making the right choices when buying and driving your car.

Even a used automobile has some worth, particularly if it’s in good condition. It can be exchanged for cash or sold for a profit. Maintaining as much of the vehicle’s worth as possible while you possess it is crucial for maximizing this sum.

In this blog post, Vatland Honda will discuss ten simple steps that you can take to retain and maintain the value of your car!

Step 01: Keep the Vehicle Clean Both Inside and Out.

Keeping your car clean is essential to maintain its value and running well. The best way to keep your car clean is by regularly washing and waxing it. You should also vacuum your car’s interior regularly to remove dirt, dust, and other debris.

Washing your car regularly will help remove any dirt and grime that can damage the paintwork. Waxing your car will create a protective barrier against the elements, helping to keep the paintwork in good condition. Vacuuming your car’s interior will help remove any accumulated dirt, dust, or crumbs over time.

Step 02: Ensure Documentation Is Up to Date.

A lack of documentation can also diminish a vehicle’s value. Ensure you have all the essential papers in a safe and easily accessible place. These include the registration, insurance, and car title.

It may be challenging to prove car ownership if you don’t have the original documents. This could make it difficult to sell or trade in the vehicle.

Step 03: Regularly Service Your Vehicle

Most of us don’t go to a service station until we have to. Nevertheless, it’s a wise idea to maintain your car regularly. Obtain regular oil changes at the very least. Once that is done, keep a record of every maintenance and repair.

You could prevent expensive repairs with routine maintenance. A prospective buyer can see that you took care to maintain the automobile correctly while you had it by looking at a record of the services performed. Even if nothing else, a track record of reliable service might assist you in negotiating a higher sale price. Many potential buyers are prepared to pay more for a car with regular maintenance, particularly if you can back it up.

Step 04: Track Your Miles

Every buyer will ask: How many miles are on your car? So, keep track of your mileage. Maintaining a low profile is crucial. Most people travel between 12,000 and 15,000 miles on average each year. Heavy vehicle users log more than 20,000 miles a year on their cars. Once a vehicle has more than 100,000 miles on it, its value rapidly declines. When you reach 200,000 miles, the value further lowers.

Step 05: Be Careful Where You Park Your Car

Your automobile will eventually get little dings and scratches, and the color will fade. This is pretty unavoidable. However, if you are careful where you park your automobile, you can reduce these occurrences. When parking, attempt to park as far away from other vehicles as possible.

Most people believe parking their car in the garage will help maintain its value. But this is not always the case. If you live in a location with a humid environment, your car’s paint job and upholstery can suffer. So, it’s best to park your car indoors in a temperature-controlled environment.

Step 06: Avoid Damage to Wheels

Speaking of picky purchasers, many of them will pay particular attention to a car’s wheels’ condition. If they notice the wheels are damaged, they frequently leave. You can avoid this by ensuring you don’t scrape the curb. And remain careful when driving over potholes and speed bumps.

If your vehicle’s tires or wheels are damaged, you can either buy new ones or try to have them repaired. Professional wheel repair firms can restore damaged wheels at a fair price. Typically, it will be less expensive than having them replaced entirely.

Step 07: Avoid Customization

Avoid the temptation to overly customize your automobile if you want to add your touch to it because doing so might reduce its resale value (and affect your insurance costs). To prevent turning off potential buyers, keep features and characteristics genuine to the original automobile brand and model. Personalized extras may showcase your sense of flair, but they irritate other individuals.

Ending Note:

Following the steps and advice above can maintain or even increase your car’s value. Whether you plan to sell it outright or trade it in, taking care of your car is essential. Do not let depreciation get the best of your vehicle–be proactive and take charge of keeping your car valuable.

Want to maintain your Honda?

Don’t trust just any neighborhood mechanic to take care of your Honda’s upkeep; instead, bring it to Vatland Honda serving Merritt Island, FL, and let our team of factory-trained mechanics do it. The specialists employed by our neighborhood Honda repair shop are familiar with the particular serving needs of your Honda Ridgeline or Pilot. They can swiftly and precisely identify performance concerns or undertake standard Honda maintenance.

Schedule your service today!