10 Things That Take a Toll on Used Car Values (Part 1)

Some of the things that affect used car values are fairly obvious. If a car looks as if it was driven through a war zone and is falling apart at the seams, it’s not going to sell for much. Likewise, if it’s a notoriously unreliable model that lacks even a shred of desirability, you’ll be lucky to sell it at all.

But aside from these fairly obvious issues, there are also several lesser-known things that can take a real toll on used car value.

For anyone looking to get the best possible price for any type of used car, here are a few things to be mindful of along the way:

1. Stickers and Decals

First up, stickers and decals on the exterior of the car are a big turn-off for many buyers. You may think it’s cool to emblazon your car with stickers from your favourite shoe brands, but it’s seen as tacky and tasteless by others. Even though it takes seconds to remove the stickers, it can still be enough to put some people off the idea of buying the car in the first place. Hence, your best bet is to remove them yourself, prior to taking pictures of your car and putting it up for sale.

1. Damaged Lights

There’s something instinctively off-putting about damaged lights. Even if they are still in perfectly good working order, a couple of hairline cracks or issues with discoloration can make a real difference. Most likely due to the fact that damaged lights indicate that a car has at some point be involved in some kind of collision. As rudimentary as it may be, it’s still something that can affect the perceived value (and subsequent sale price) of a used car.

1. The Location of the Sale

It’s an interesting phenomenon, but some makes and models of vehicles are more popular and revered in some places than others. An obvious example of which would be the difference between a rugged 4x4 in a remote rural location and a completely impractical two-seater sports car. If, for whatever reason, there isn’t a great deal of demand for a specific type of car in its current location, it’s not going to be worth as much as it would be elsewhere. Worth considering, if you have the option of marketing your car to an audience outside your locality.

1. Windscreen Chips

Like damaged lights, a simple (and tiny) crack or chip in the windscreen can make a car significantly less desirable. Again, despite the fact that it’s probably something that can be fixed in a matter of minutes and for next to nothing. Still, it’s something that’s worth considering fixing yourself, in order to present your car to potential buyers in the best possible light.

1. Cigarette Smoke Smell

Chances are that if you’re a smoker, you’ll have no idea just how terrible the inside of your car smells. It could smell fresh as a daisy to you, but about as pleasant as a filthy ashtray to everyone else. Getting rid of the cigarette smoke smell from inside a car can be practically impossible. Sadly, anything less could make it all-but impossible to sell your car for a decent price.

Stay tuned for the second half of our two-part post on used-car price-killers, coming soon…