Second-hand car sales are booming right now, and at the best possible time – with new car availability dwindling, the value of second-hand vehicles is on the rise. The market shows no signs of slowing, making the future very bright for used car sales. But you can’t rely on the market alone to sell your car. If it isn’t in the best possible condition, it will still depreciate a significant portion of its initial value. But with these simple steps, you can maintain your car and its value at the same time – ensuring your car sells for the highest possible price.

Keep It Clean

Hoovering your car might not sound like a sure-fire way to keep it from losing value over time, but failure to keep up with simple cleaning tasks can quicken the wear of certain materials. For example: if dirt remains baked into your foot-well carpets, the fibres in your carpet will suffer over time, especially if they receive continual use. Worn interiors cut into your car’s value, and re-upholstery can be expensive. So be sure to keep up with regular car cleans, interior and exterior.

Grime left unchecked on your exterior windows can become a problem if hardened – an action as simple as switching on your windscreen wipers could result in a scratched windscreen. Something as simple as keeping your car in the shade can prevent the paintwork from fading, keeping your car looking new as possible prior to re-sale.

Keep It Serviced

Whether or not you’re selling your car, it is crucial that you send it in for regular servicing. This way, you are more likely to discover any potential issues with your car before they present themselves – usually as a nasty noise or smell, meaning they’ve caused further damage in the process. For example, timing belts or cam belts are very important for regulating the mechanical elements of your engine, and are recommended to be replaced every 4 years or 40,000 miles. Cam belt failure can cause serious problems with your pistons, and a service would be sure not to miss a cam belt due for replacement.

By that same token, booking your car MOT before sale can be beneficial to the sale. While it may seem counter-intuitive to spend money on your car before selling it, being able to advertise the car as having passed a recent MOT is a big bonus to buyers – not only indicating that it runs fine, but also that they don’t have to book their own for a while.

Keep It Stock

An easy way to accidentally throw money away in a used car sale is to keep your car modified. Used car buyers are usually looking for a car in pristine original condition, and extras such as a new stereo system or modified bodywork like spoilers and flared arches – while themselves expensive – are more likely to turn buyers off, and force you to lower your price in the process.

Keep Your Fluids Topped Up

Last but certainly not least, be sure to check your fluids regularly. Oil is especially important for your engine, and regular top-ups and oil replacements can keep it ticking over like new for some time. Brake fluid is also important to monitor, and even your coolant fluids can have a marked effect on your engine’s performance.