Updated: How to maximise your car’s resale value

With the cost of living constantly increasing, many South Africans are looking towards used cars rather than buying new. When buying a used car, one of the most important factors consumers consider is resale value. Therefore, if you’re planning to sell your car one day, it’s important to take good care of your car to ensure a higher resale value.

Your car is depreciating all the time, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get a good price for it if you sell it. Here are clever ways you can increase your vehicle’s resale value.

  Maintain it regularly and properly

Regular maintenance not only keeps your car in good shape, but it also looks good to a potential buyer if they can see the full service history and have peace of mind that any small or big issues have been attended to.

On that note, keep a folder of all maintenance and repair receipts or records so a potential buyer has full knowledge of what your car has been through.

 Fix things

If your car needs new windscreen wipers, then replace them, or if the radio isn’t working, fix it. If you see any warning lights on the dashboard, rather address the problem than wait for a prospective buyer to see it.

Investing in repairing what’s broken will pay off. Scratches can be buffed or painted over, and if you have a serious dent, it’s best to have it professionally fixed, which could still cost you less than the value you lose by selling a dented car. Scratch & Dent insurance through MotorHappy will cover the cost of minor repairs to your vehicle’s interior and exterior. Click here to find out more.

 Have a duplicate key

A new owner will want a duplicate car key. If you don’t have one, order one sooner than later as sometimes it could take weeks, depending on where it’s coming from.

 Keep it clean

It might sound like an obvious one but keeping a car properly clean on the inside and outside is one of the best things you can do as your car will be judged on its appearance. A good idea is to clear out the trash, get a car deodorizer, wax the body until it shines, clean the headlights (ideally with a product especially suited to them), wash the floor mats and vacuum the interior.

 Inspect the tyres and replace if necessary

Yes, new tyres are costly, but you’ll likely get the money back plus more if you sell a car with new tyres, rather than worn ones.

 Sell your car through MotorHappy

Wondering how much your car is worth? Use the easy listing process on the MotorHappy website to get an evaluation as well as offers from interested buyers and dealers. Click here to get started.