How to Protect Your Car’s Resale Value

How Do You Retain Your Car’s Resale Value?

Most Southside Dodge customers plan on selling (or trading in) their vehicles to defray the costs of buying a new one. For that reason, and several others, it’s important for people to consider their automobile’s resale value during the course of ownership. So, how do you retain your car’s resale value? This question may seem like it will require a lot of extra work and require extra expenses, but it’s actually much easier than that. Ultimately, the best way to ensure your car, truck or SUV loses as little value as possible is to keep up with regular maintenance. Check out a few tips to accomplish this that came from our team of product experts and service technicians.

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Choose Parking Spaces Wisely

While you might be concerned with keeping your vehicle in the best possible condition, there are plenty of people who may not be quite concerned with that. Choosing a safe and secure parking location can help prevent damage that will be both expensive to repair and could damage your car’s resale value.

• Avoid parking under trees. Bird droppings and tree sap can severely damage the paint.
• Use a locked garage if possible. This will provide protection from the elements as well as thieves and vandals.
• Consider parking further away from businesses. Most people want to get as close as they can to a business’s front door. Parking further away decreases the odds of parking near other vehicles that might cause dents and paint scratches.

Don’t Skip Car Washes

One of our favourite automotive idioms is, ‘A clean car is a happy car.’ Getting your car washed regularly is about more than pride. Having your car washed, not necessarily thoroughly detailed, just washed a few times a month, can have huge implications for a vehicle’s resale value. There are a lot of environmental hazards out there that can damage a car’s paint finish. Getting these contaminants off your car’s exterior is crucial to keeping that showroom shine.

If you want to wash your car yourself, make sure you are using detergents that are approved for automotive use. Some soaps and cleaners will strip away protective layers. Also, consider waxing the vehicle for an extra layer of protection.

Get Your Oil Changed On Time

If we’re starting to sound like a broken record, it’s only because what you’re about to read is so important. The best way to keep your vehicle as valuable as possible is to keep up with regular manufacturer-prescribed maintenance like oil changes, brake replacements and tire rotations. Once the oil is changed and the appointment is completed, be sure to keep all of your maintenance and repair receipts for future use. Having this documentation on hand will be very helpful when it comes time to sell your car or trade it in at Southside Dodge.

The best time to start making decisions to retain your vehicle’s resale value is the day you take it home. The second best time to start considering resale value is today. Make an appointment with a Southside Dodge service advisor, today, if you would like some help getting your vehicle into peak condition to sell.