Stephen Ottley
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How to sell your car

The do's and don'ts of selling your car. By Stephen Ottley.

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How to sell your car


How to sell your car

When you're walking down the aisle, you're not thinking about the divorce settlement. It's the same when you're buying a car. The adrenalin's coursing through your veins, the salesman is applying the blowtorch and you're not thinking rationally.

But if you don't want your relationship with your car to end in tears, you have to start thinking about selling it the minute you enter the dealership. That includes the colour you choose - orange may be fashionable this year but it's not a perennial favourite.

Sadly, the adage about a car losing a large chunk of its value the instant it leaves the dealership is true. But you can stem the bleeding by making good choices along the way.

It's a bit like selling your house. Real estate agents will tell you to de-clutter the living areas, water the garden and bake bread before an open house. They talk about giving a house ''kerb appeal'' and the same principle applies to cars, perhaps more literally.

Whether you decide to sell privately or trade in, there are golden rules for selling your car.

1. Get your book stamped

It may sound simple but it is one of the best things you can do to protect the value of your car.

Servicing it according to the manufacturer's schedule is a must. You don't have to take it back to the dealer who sold it to you; any licensed mechanic can service your car and stamp your books. The warranty remains valid as long as the mechanic uses genuine parts for the service.

Make sure you're given an itemised receipt of the work done. Detailed paperwork and a stamped service book gives a would-be buyer peace of mind.

2. Wash it regularly

grimey car

Don't neglect the weekend car wash. A Drive poll conducted last year found that one in five owners either never wash the car or bathe it just once a year.

General road grime will eventually damage the paint if you don't wash your car regularly, while bird droppings and bugs need to be cleaned off as they appear.

Dull or damaged paintwork will hurt the value of your car.

As well as a regular wash, a polish once a year will keep that new-car shine.

At sale time, give the engine bay a good clean. It gives the impression the car has been well looked after.

3. Consider your options

Ticking the right options boxes can make a big difference at sale time.

Picking a cheaper model and adding extras may save you a few dollars when you buy the car but it won't help come resale time because options depreciate at twice the rate of the car.

Sadly, that goes for safety features as well. Airbags will cost more up front but don't command a premium at sale time. Buyers are more likely to pay a bit more for creature comforts such as leather trim, alloy wheels and tinted windows.

If you want the peace of mind of airbags and would like a few extra comforts, you are better off choosing a more expensive model, as it will retain its value much better.

4. Fix it quick

It may not be scientifically proven but new cars attract dents. It's almost inevitable that something will go wrong with your car at some point. Just how bad it becomes depends on how quickly you deal with it.

You may think nothing of a small scratch but if it exposes the metal to the elements, rust can quickly set in. You also need to look out for any damp patches of carpet, especially in the boot, that could also lead to rust. Mechanical problems need swift attention, too. Something that starts off as a small (and cheap) fix could soon become a larger problem and expense.

Try to get to know your car. If something sounds or feels a bit strange, have it checked out.

5. Look after ther interior

There's no point keeping the exterior pristine if the inside looks like a dump.

Looking after the seat trim and dash surfaces is just as important as washing the paintwork. Vacuum the seats and floors and don't forget the boot. Give the dashboard a clean with one of the many protective products on the market. Don't leave football boots, dirty gym bags and sweaty socks in the car. You may be used to the smell of your car but it could turn off a potential buyer.

6. Maintain tyres

They don't call the buying process ''kicking tyres'' for nothing.

Even if prospective buyers know nothing about cars, you can be guaranteed that they will check the tyres.

There's no point having a clean, well-serviced and well-presented car if it is riding on bad rubber.

It's the first thing people will mention when they're trying to knock down the price of the car. Badly worn tyres will also affect the quality of roadholding on the test drive. Squealing tyres will raise alarm bells.

7. Bin the bling

Remember that your tastes may not be what buyers are after.

You may love big, shiny gangster-style alloy wheels but they're unlikely to help you at resale time.

Stick to the factory alloys and they'll retain their value better than aftermarket ones.

8. Park it carefully

In an ideal world, every car would be parked in a beautiful, climate-controlled and spotless garage but some have to tough it out on the streets.

It pays to be particularly careful when you're parking.

Try to avoid parking under tree branches or power lines, where a bird could make an, um, deposit on your car.

Tree sap is also notorious for ruining the paint.

If a bird does make its mark then clean it off as soon as possible to avoid the chances of incurring any lasting damage.

9. Go mellow, not yellow

Yellow car

Car companies like to offer bright, or ''hero'', colours to help attract attention to new models. But while you may love that lairy yellow or vivid purple in the brochure, don't rush in and order it.

Choose a popular colour rather than a personal favourite and you'll be glad you let your head rule your heart at resale time.

Hero colours are not big sellers and while you might think it makes your car special, it actually makes it undesirable to a large percentage of the market.

The more fashionable it is when new, the more out of date it is when it's time to sell. Try to stick with the traditional, strong colours - popular examples are white, black or silver.

10. Good photos

If selling privately, the right photos will influence how long it takes to sell the vehicle and how much people are willing to pay.

The more photos the better. Make sure you show a front, back, side, front and rear three-quarters, interior, under the bonnet and in the boot. It lets people know what to expect and shows you've got nothing to hide.

Car care: What not to do

dog hair

1. Let the registration lapse. No rego will drastically cut the number of people interested in your car.

2. Carry your pets in your car. Pet smells, slobber and dog hair are big turn-offs.

3. Park under trees or power lines. Sap and bird droppings are paint strippers.

4. Smoke in your car. It's almost impossible to rid a car of cigarette smoke.

5. Use automatic car washes. They can scratch paint. Use a do-it-yourself wash bay instead.

6. Use non-genuine parts or an unlicensed mechanic. It will void any warranty you may have may left on the car.

7. Modify your vehicle with aftermarket parts. Leave the car design to the experts or suffer at sale time.

8. Lie about the car's condition to potential buyers. They'll only be disappointed and annoyed, especially if they've come a long way to see the car.

9. Buy a car without a documented history. Even if you service the car regularly when you get it, incomplete log books will turn buyers away.

10. Ignore problems when they arise. Scratches can become rust and leaks can lead to major failures.

TLC goes a long way


Graham Richmond cares about his cars and as someone who regularly changes his set of wheels, he knows the benefits come trade-in time.

The owner of a 2006 Porsche Cayman S, he washes it regularly and polishes it every six months to keep it in good condition. He also pays close attention to the state of the interior to keep the leather looking and feeling in showroom condition.

Having given his previous cars - which included two Boxsters - the same treatment, he says the benefits are worthwhile.

"You can certainly see trade-in benefits if you look after your cars," Richmond says.

"It's not hard to do. Once you've got a good coat it only takes a few hours to polish it. And you can see the effect; the dirt comes off easier and the water will bead off."

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