There are a couple important things to remember about car valuations.

Cars aren’t like homes or real estate. Except for classic cars or collectible automobiles, vehicles generally don’t appreciate in value. The average car, truck or SUV owner shouldn’t invest in a bunch of flashy accessories with the goal of selling their car for a lot of extra money. Chances are if you put $10,000 of accessories on a $25,000 car, you’ll end up selling it for something like $32,000 – not $40,000.

There are small things you can do to increase your resale value. Installing certain accessories may even be one of those things. Safety feature upgrades (backup cameras, lane departure systems, etc.) or adding Bluetooth connectivity to an older car is more likely to net you a better sale price than fancy rims and tinted windows.

Do your own research before spending money on accessories to increase your car’s valuation. See what other people have been able to sell vehicles like yours for after investing in upgrades.

How Is Car Resale Value Determined?

The biggest factors for car valuation are:

• Mileage
• Age
• Condition

Mileage and age essentially put a ceiling on your vehicle’s value. Condition is the factor that will really differentiate your vehicle from other vehicles on the resale market with the same age and similar mileage.

There are lots of things you can do (or not do) to ensure your car, truck or SUV stays in the best condition possible: 

• Don’t allow smoking in your vehicle
• Drive carefully and avoid accidents
• Park wisely – don’t park in spaces where dings from other people’s doors are likely
• Be careful when driving through gas stations or other places where there are posts you might scrape against
• Touch up paint chips as soon as possible to prevent paint peeling or other damage
• Don’t put bumper stickers on your vehicle – they might discourage future buyers
• Keep up with oil changes and manufacturer recommend maintenance
• Hold on to documentation from maintenance so you have proof you’ve taken care of your vehicle
• Be kind to the interior of your vehicle – don’t let spills turn into stains or smells take root in upholstery and carpeting

The condition of your car, truck or SUV might have a huge impact on what a car buyer is willing to pay for your vehicle. You’ll eventually sell or trade in every car you own, so avoid doing things that will make your vehicle unappealing to future buyers.

Does My Car’s Color Matter?

It might. Color can matter in a couple of important ways. How much color will affect the actual resale value of your car depends on the color and what people are wiling to stomach. You might have to come down on the price of a hot pink car with polka dots unless you find a buyer who just happens to be into that kind of thing.

There are popular vehicle paint colors and there are unpopular colors. If car buyers have a choice between two similar vehicles, they’ll likely choose based on aesthetic differences like color.

Certain colors also make car ownership easier. White, silver and gray make scratches and dings less noticeable. Silver or grey vehicles tend to be the best at hiding dirt, while black cars tend to be the worst at hiding dust and grime.

Despite the propensity for black vehicles to look like they get dirty quickly, they’re still some of the most popular. About 19 percent of all vehicles are some kind of black. White is the most popular vehicle color at 26 percent. Silver (12 percent) and gray (19 percent) are other good options.

Certain colors might be better for some vehicles. For example, blue (15 percent) and red (14 percent) are both popular colors for convertibles, sports cars and coupes.

If you want a unique looking car without jeopardizing the future value of your vehicle, consider investing in a vinyl car wrap. A car wrap is a reversable way to get creative with your vehicle’s exterior. Plus, a properly installed car wrap provides great protection and will help preserve your car’s paint.



Ready to Sell Your Car in Washington, D.C. or Baltimore?

DirectCarBuying.com is dedicated to offering a great price to car owners in Washington, D.C. and Baltimore who are interested in selling their vehicles. If you want to get a competitive cash offer or maximize your car, truck or SUVs trade-in value, don’t hesitate to contact our team at 877-927-6093.

Get your cash offer in as little as three business hours!