It is pretty rare these days that anyone has a car for life and we should always keep one eye on preserving value in our vehicles so that we can maximize how much we sell it on for when the time comes. Those buying new cars will be well aware of the staggering amount of money which their car loses the second that it is driven away from the dealership, sometimes up to 25% of the car’s value. For those buying used cars, the experience can sometimes be the same.

With this in mind, it is vital that you do all that you can to maintain as much value in your car as possible and here are some tips on doing so.

Sensible Driving

Aside from the fact that driving in a sensible manner will also help to ensure that you stay safe on the road and are more likely to avoid collisions, this style of driving can also help the health of your car. If you are the type of person who heavily revs the engine, corners at speed and brakes late then you will be putting a great deal of pressure on the parts of your car. Whilst parts can always be replaced, this will cost you unnecessary money which you can deduct from whatever cash you receive for your car.

Cleaning

Regular cleaning, inside and out, of your car does not just ensure that it looks great on the road. You can actually do damage to your car if you fail to clean it which can ultimately devalue the auto. Dirt on the outside, if not cleaned, will stick to the paintwork of the car and then when it is finally cleaned can cause the paint to chip off with the dirt. Inside the car, long standing dirt can often become impossible to shift and end up staining the interior of your car. Nobody wants to buy a car with grime inside and if you want to heighten the value of your car then it is important to keep it clean.

Protection

Investing in seat covers and paintwork protection for your car can go a long way to maintaining the value in it. Seat covers are particularly important as you can well imagine how much wear and tear the upholstery in your car will see over the years. Using strong seat protectors will ensure that the seats look almost brand new when the time comes to sell the car.

Age

If you know that one day you will be selling the car then it is important that you put a time limit on this. Each year your car will naturally devalue and so it is important that you don’t wait too long before selling it. Keep this in mind when it comes to maintaining your car’s value.

Make sure you regularly keep your eye on what the car market is doing and if things look good then always be ready to sell your car if the market is high.