Everyone wants the best price when selling their car, so you’ll also want to do that! However, only some know the value of cars or how much their car is worth.
We are well-equipped to offer you some advice on what dealers and prospective purchasers are searching for when appraising a car for purchase because we are specialists in the field with years of experience.
If you’re reading this when you’re looking to sell your car, some of the advice discussed here may already be too late, but there will still be some useful tips to help you get a little more use out of your old car.
You can take good care of your new car in anticipation of the day you decide to sell it, and you’ll know the points you can’t utilize now for the next time.
Two Important Factors for Valuation
When evaluating a car, a buyer is primarily concerned with two factors: the car’s condition, which covers a wide variety of subjects, and the way the vehicle is presented, or if it is clean, at the time of valuation.
When you dig a little further, these two points cover almost everything a customer looks at, even if they are rather broad. We’ll go into more detail and offer some suggestions on what to do right away if you intend to sell your car or what to do right away to ensure it holds its worth.
When you’re prepared to sell, we would happily schedule a time to appraise your car and take it off your hands in exchange for cash!
What to Consider when Estimating a Car’s value
Kilometers Traveled
When determining the value of a car, this is typically one of the first factors that purchasers consider. It gives them a decent idea of what to anticipate should they decide to purchase the car. Additionally, it informs customers of the necessity of doing specific maintenance tasks.
Bodywork
The outside components of your car, such as the doors, bumpers, wheels, lights, and so forth, can significantly affect its value. A car with dents, scratches, damaged light clusters, missing panels, scuffed wheels, etc., will be worth less.
Even though behind the beaten exterior may be the most dependable and cost-effective car on the planet, first impressions matter. When someone wants to buy a new car, they usually want it to look brand-new and not pre-beaten and worn out, whether buying from a dealer or used.
Hail Damage
At Just Cash for cars Brisbane, hail damage is regrettably a frequent occurrence when it comes to car valuation. Living in Queensland, hail is a common occurrence. As many of you are aware, hail can do severe damage to cars, sometimes even totaling them!
Hail damage, while unavoidable for most, may regrettably lower your car’s resale value. The degree to which it is impacted depends on how serious and widespread the harm is.
Wheels / Tyres
The state of your car’s wheels and tires might impact its value. The bigger the wheels, the more true this is.
Here’s an example:
An SUV, a Porsche Cayenne, arrives at the dealership; it’s a stunning car with eye-catching bodywork and a recognizable “face.” The Porsche has sustained numerous kerbs; the black wheels now have large gashes and no paint around the rim. Because the curb has struck them so frequently, the tires are bald and have splits and sections missing.
The tyres must be gigantic to fit these enormous wheels (take note of how wide a Porsche’s rear wheels are the next time you see one).
A full set of the suggested Michelin tyres + fitting can cost more than $2,000 in addition to the enormous wheels. Expect the cost to be subtracted from the car’s worth if you’re unwilling to pay to have these replaced—or mended in the case of the wheels.
Service History
When the time comes for a car buyer to appraise your car, having documentation of its maintenance history will come in handy. The car will be far more valuable if well-maintained, and you can verify this with the log book.
You will receive more credit if the manufacturer has regularly serviced the car; these mechanics are specifically educated to work on your car, but they are typically more expensive.
This implies that they are familiar with the car’s ins and outs and common problems and will utilize the best parts made by (or suggested by) the manufacturer to guarantee optimal performance.
Purchasing a car with no service history carries a great deal of mystery, which makes the decision extremely risky.
Car dealers want to know exactly what to expect to ensure the car will pass this roadworthy certificate, as they will need to obtain one before selling it. A solid track record of servicing may relieve their concerns.
Windscreen
Since the windscreen is a large, expensive pane of glass, any damage to it could be costly to repair and might not pass a roadworthy test.
Unfortunately, the majority of the time, windscreen damage is unavoidable and unplanned; chips and fractures in your glass can be caused by hail, stones from the road, or even birds.
Interior / Upholstery
A car’s interior greatly influences the value that purchasers place on vehicles. The interior maintenance is also reasonably simple to handle independently; all you need is a vacuum cleaner and a duster to achieve this. A mechanic is not required.
Car valuers are aware that normal wear and tear is a result of driving your car every day, and that little damage is inevitable, particularly on older models. However, any obvious, more significant damage can lower the value of your car.
Unlike an air freshener, a clean, well-maintained interior that smells good will make any car valuer happy.
Leaks
An oil leak in your car is a terrible indicator and needs to be fixed. A small oil leak from a broken oil filter or a large, costly leak from a fractured sump are two examples of different types of oil leaks.
Knocks and Noises
Unusual noises originating from your car are usually not a good thing. Unwanted sounds and knocks will reduce the value of a car. In some situations, customers didn’t even realize the noise was there or didn’t give it much thought, so sometimes it makes more financial sense for you to sell without having the noise repaired!
We won’t cover every issue that could arise in your car, but again, regular maintenance is the key to preventing undesirable noises.
Presentation
Fresh detailing will make any auto buyer extremely happy, and you might even get paid more when you show up to sell your car. We frequently witness cars that appear to have never been washed and are jam-packed with trash.
Although this doesn’t address the caliber or state of the car, it does prompt questions about “what else has been neglected,” regrettably, first impressions do matter.
A car with regular servicing and maintenance is far more likely to have been serviced and maintained than one whose owner has yet to have the time to wash and detail it.
Conclusion
The key to getting the most out of your car is something you probably noticed throughout this article. It’s easy: consistent upkeep.
Take care of your car, which will take care of you when driving and selling. Sell your car at the top, not the bottom, of the price range. Now that you understand how auto buyers value cars, you better use these pointers to prepare your car before you bring it in.
