While most cars depreciate over the years, with a few exceptions, there are easy ways to make sure your vehicle keeps its value when the time comes to sell it.

How you care for your car has everything to do with the price it will command when it comes time to sell it or trade it in for a new car.

Keep the car in the garage

A car that’s parked in a garage is protected from the elements: cold, heat, sunshine, wind, hail, driving rain, and snow. It’s even protected from branches and other debris that may fall out of nearby trees.

Plus garaging your car stops it from being stolen or broken into. So, if you are like me and have a garage that is full of everything but a car, then it’s time for a clear-out and give you vehicle somewhere safe to stay.

Regular servicing for your car

Mechanical problems with cars tend to be progressive in nature, with small issues become big problems, sooner or later. Since you’re never entirely sure when you may need to sell or trade-in your car, it’s best to have it undergo regular servicing to avoid the kind of problems that can cut the value of your car substantially. In addition, a car that has regular servicing run better and quieter – and that’s something that car buyers notice.

Clean up stains as soon as possible

Car interiors are generally designed to resist stains but this resistance works best when you clean spills soon after they occur. If you allow spills to stay on upholstery or carpets for weeks or months, they can become permanent stains that even professionals cleaners can’t remove.

This is particularly a problem if you have small children who have a preference for red coloured drinks as red dye resists coming out any kind of material. Should anything red make contact with any material surfaces in your car, be sure to clean it up immediately. The same goes for split milk, which you should cry over if it spills in your car on the way back from the supermarket or your toddler empties their bottle in the vehicle. Clean it up immediately or you’ll be living with the stench for weeks. 

Drive it easy

Hard-driving results in accelerated wear and tear, and can lead to weird noises, as well as permanent impairment of certain parts of the car. Side benefit: driving smoothly uses less petrol.

Keep mileage to a minimum

Everyone knows that the mileage on your car has a major effect on its value. More kilometres equals lower value, fewer kms result in a higher value. For this reason, you need to keep mileage to an absolute minimum. Consolidate trips, carpool where you can, set aside a few days each month to go car-less – it all adds up. Consolidating trips is also better for your engine and petrol bill, as your car performs more efficiently with a warm engine.