One of the most annoying things about buying a new car is knowing from that point onwards the vehicle will only depreciate in value. Unfortunately, this is a fact that we all have to accept, with the value dropping 15-35% in the first year and a huge 50% over the following three years.

It’s no surprise that many of us opt to buy vehicles on finance as selling the vehicle even a few years after buying It means the car will have lost a lot of value and you probably won’t make as much as you want to. However, there are some things you can do to prolong and increase the value of your car when it comes to reselling it. If you have just bought a car, the buying a private number plate is always a good idea by an online company like NewReg.co.uk or via the DVLA. If nothing else it hides the year and gives your car that little bit of class and the perception by others is a higher value.

Keep your paperwork in order

 One thing that buyers are extremely sceptical of is if the seller doesn’t have all of the paperwork for the vehicle and its full-service history, this can be a make or break when it comes to the sale of your car. When keeping records of your car, make sure that you have:

• A full service history
• The warranty
• The manual
• The finance contracts

Whenever your vehicle has taken a trip to the mechanic, keep a record of what has been done to the car and keep it all in a file. This way, if the buyer has any questions to ask you regarding the service of the vehicle or any problems, you have full proof written down on paper.

Another thing to note, if you’ve kept a file of all of the documents relating to your vehicle, it shows the prospective buyer that you have cared for and maintained your vehicle well. This will work in your favour as they will have more trust in you and can see that the vehicle is in a good condition.

Maintain the vehicle 

One of the best ways to prolong the value of your vehicle is to keep up with maintenance checks and ensure that your vehicle is running smoothly as possible. This means you need to lookout for warning signs of the vehicle dashboard and have them seen to immediately. If not, there could be a serious problem that you’re ignoring. Even if your vehicle only has a small problem, it is best that it is dealt with straight away, otherwise the small problem may become a big one which can definitely decrease the value of your car.

Whether you are a car expert or not, taking your vehicle to a mechanic for regular check-ups can ensure that there are no major problems arising, and if so, they can be repaired instantly.

Make any cosmetic fixtures 

Another way you can help to boost the value of your car is by fixing any cosmetic problems before the potential buyer sees the vehicle. More often than not, these types of problems will not cost much and can be repaired quickly, such as small scratches and dents, dirty wheels and old tyres.

The tyres and wheels are the most perishable part of your vehicle, therefore if they look old, dirty and worn down it will appear as though you haven’t maintained your car well. Before the buyer sees them, make sure to give your wheels a polish or have them replaced if they are over-worn to improve the appearance of your vehicle.

Most of the time, small dents and scratches can be fixed without having to repaint the whole vehicle and without using a mechanic. If it is only a small scratch, this can often be polished out without having to splash out on a paint job.

However, if there are quite a few bumps and scratches then it may be worth having a professional repaint the vehicle to a high standard. Otherwise, lots of poor repairs can make the vehicle look shabby and lower the value. 

Taking good care of your vehicle from the offset can help to maintain a higher value of your car, without the value depreciating too quickly. Although you will never get the same price as when you bought it, with these tips you can improve the value easily.