How to Increase Your Car’s Resale Value Before Selling

If you’re ready to sell your car and want to get the most out of it, you’ll want to take steps to increase your car’s resale value.

There isn’t much you can do about the mileage on the odometer or the maintenance history if you haven’t performed regularly scheduled maintenance on your vehicle. The number of accidents are also out of your control, but there are several things you can do to increate the value of your car when its time to sell. Doing some of these things could add a few hundred dollars to the sale price.

Fix those nagging issues

You might be fine driving your car with some of its minor issues; a few of them could remind you of what happened to cause these issues, but the next driver won’t have the same nostalgic feeling toward them. Before you sell your car, it’s important to take care of chipped paint, minor dents and scratches, and any mechanical issues that might be present. These small repairs can be done at a low cost, and they can be removed as negotiating points for the buyer.

A clean car gets more money

The first impression your car makes on the next potential buyer is significant and important. If you want to increase your car’s resale value, you need to clean and detail your car. You could take it to a professional to have a thorough job done, but this will cost a lot more than cleaning the car yourself. Spend an afternoon going over the car with a fine-toothed comb to ensure everything you can clean is done. The better your car looks when you’re ready to sell, the more you’ll get for it.

Replace those tires and brakes

Brakes, tires, and fluids are the most consumable parts of your vehicle. A new seller doesn’t want to spend thousands of dollars to buy your old car only to spend more money to replace the brakes and tires. Putting fresh, new tires and brakes on the vehicle and showing a receipt with the date and mileage that the service was performed will increase the sale price. This is a negotiating point in your favor, allowing you to stick to the listed price much easier.

Remove customization items

Anything you’ve done to your car that changes it from the way it came off the production line can be a negative to some buyers. Unless a buyer is looking at your car for the specific modifications and upgrades that you’ve added, they will want it to be as close to stock as possible. If you can remove the customization items you’ve added, you’ll increase your car’s resale value and present a vehicle that is a clean slate for the next driver.

Remove decals and stickers

It should go without saying, but some people forget about the stickers and decals they have on their vehicles. You might be a proud honor roll student parent, but the next driver isn’t likely to feel the same way. Additionally, your stick figure family in the rear window doesn’t necessarily represent the next driver’s family. Before you sell, these are items that should be removed. The car needs to look and feel like it did when it came from a dealership, which means removing all evidence of personalization.

Keep the interior clean until it’s sold

Once you list your vehicle for sale, you need to maintain the cleanliness of the car, especially the interior. This can be difficult, especially if you utilize the vehicle as your daily driver. You never know when you might get a call or contact to meet up and look at your vehicle and your car needs to be ready at all times. This might not be a tip that will increase your car’s resale value, but it will make things much easier for you when the call comes in.

Timing is everything

Is it the right time to sell your car? Like any industry, the car business fluctuates throughout the year and at certain times. After the COVID-19 pandemic, dealerships were desperate for used cars and paid top dollar for them. Today, that’s not the case. Selling in the spring or summer is often more profitable than in the winter months. You need to understand the timing when you’re ready to sell your car. Your personal circumstances don’t determine the market.

These tips can help you get the most out of your vehicle. With these simple items, you can increase your car’s resale value, ensuring you get a fair price for the car you sell.