When it comes to modifying your car, there are a few things you’ll want to avoid if you plan to sell your car down the road. Buyers can be a fickle bunch, and are likely to look for any small change or detail that can save them a few dollars and let them make a lower offer for your car. To help avoid an unsuitable offer, use this list to better understand the car modifications you can make that won’t hurt your car’s resell value. From exhaust systems to steering wheel covers – there is a lot you can do to your car that won’t reduce its value, but potentially increase it instead!
Keeping your car shining
It goes without saying that one of the best ways to keep your car’s resell value high is simply to take exceptional care of your car over the course of its life with you. This doesn’t mean getting it washed once a month at the car wash. Taking great care of your car means using the highest quality car care products. Products like waxes, hail protection, scratch protection and others are key to keeping your car looking as good as it possibly can. These car care products also help you avoid any dings or scratches that a buyer is almost certainly going to be looking for when conducting a pre-purchase car inspection.
Turn it up
A great modification to make that won’t hurt your resell value and can sometimes actually increase it is a new sound system. Depending on the manufacture date of your vehicle, you may or may not have digital radio or even just a good sound system installed. Taking the opportunity to upgrade provides you with a better driving experience and it will mean your car sells for a better price, as it boasts better tech than it did upon its original release. If your car doesn’t have digital radio then this is one of the best upgrades you can make for both you and any potential new owner in the future.
Window Tinting
Window tinting has a whole range of benefits for you and your vehicle. Tinting helps keep your car cooler on hot summer days, as well as providing privacy and protecting your interiors from experiencing fading or discoloration as a result of exposure to harsh sunlight. Window tinting is a great modification that a lot of buyers are looking for, as a secondhand car that comes with pre-tinted windows means that they’ll be making one less modification to that car themselves.
On top of this, window tinting itself comes at a very reasonable price point. The installation is a simple process that takes no longer than a few hours, meaning you can add value to your car in less than a day. Depending on your preference, going for a darker tint is always a better idea as it provides more protection and is a key feature you can list when it comes time to sell your vehicle.
Alloy Wheels
Alloy wheels are a great way to not only make your car look a lot nicer, but to also help hold its value. As a lot of buyers will be looking specifically for a vehicle with strong alloy wheels, upgrading and investing in these will naturally help the resell value of any car. There are a lot of options on the market, at different price points as well, so there is certain to be an option for you. With different designs and sizes, it’s simply a matter of working out what looks good on your vehicle.
Leather Interior
Leather is a fantastic material that works very well in vehicles as it’s stain-resistant, comfortable and has great longevity. Making modifications to your vehicle’s interior and installing leather seats and hardwiring for a dash cam can really help maintain the value of your car when it comes to resale. Not only will you feel more comfortable, but the car will also look a lot nicer and potential buyers will view your secondhand car as a strong contender for their next personal vehicle.
Making modifications to your car can be a dangerous game, especially if your selected modifications are of a niche taste. Reselling your car with modifications that don’t have broader appeal can greatly impact the likelihood of you getting a fair return on the initial investment you made when first purchasing the car, as well as the subsequent investments you made in its modifications. That’s why the modifications we’ve outlined here go highly recommended for car owners who want to ensure that they’re making the absolute most of their automobile.
