A CAR expert has revealed nine things drivers can do to raise their motor’s price by thousands of pounds when it comes to selling it.
Speaking exclusively to Sun Motors, Auto Express have opened up the simple steps that can be taken—some of which only take minutes—that can make a significant difference.
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According to their findings, cleaning, minor repairs, or finding documents can boost a car’s value by £2,800.
Paul Barker, editor at Auto Express, says a little effort can go a long way when it comes to flogging a set of wheels.
He said: “Most dealers will judge the value of used cars using an industry wide grading system from a company called CAP.
“The condition is categorised into three main levels: Clean condition should have a full service history and minor wear and tear.
“The Average level will include multiple small scratches, scuffed alloy wheels and missing keys or manuals. Below condition will mean more damage and lots of missing paperwork.”
One example can be made with Britain’s best-selling car, the Ford Puma, with Auto Express finding that a three-year-old Puma ST-Line will fetch a trade value of £11,550 if it’s in clean condition.
But the very same car boasts a price of just £9,200 if judged to be below standard – a difference of £2,350.
Another example was made with the Kia Sportage and Tesla Model Y – two big sellers in the UK.
A Sportage model of the same age falls £2,700 from £17,400 to £14,700, and a Tesla Model Y drops from £23,050 to £20,250, representing a difference of almost £3,000.
So, how does one achieve such a tidy price rise?
CLEAN IT
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It might sound simple, but cleaning your motor before presenting it to potential buyers can make all the difference.
Paul said: “First impressions count. You wouldn’t sell a house without a quick tidy, so do the same with your car.
“A dirty car in photos suggests a neglected one; expect to sell for 10-20% less if your car is not looking its best.”
He added that the cost could be anything up to £100, depending on the type of cleaning products you need, while the time it takes could be anything over an hour.
Best leave it for a nice, Sunday afternoon.
GET A NEW MOT
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No one likes getting an MOT, especially someone who’s about to buy a new car.
Paul said: “Many motorists try and sell their car before an MOT, but if you’re confident it’ll pass, getting it done can reassure buyers and save them a job.
“For a 10-15-year-old car, a valid MOT holds much of its value.
“Of course, there is a risk – if the car fails and it costs a lot to fix then you could be out of pocket, so this will only really add value if you are fairly certain it will pass.”
Costing just £54 and taking just an hour or two out of your day, a car with a fresh MOT can see its price rise by over £200, according to Auto Express’ data.
UP TO DATE BATTERY SOH REPORT FOR EV
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According to Auto Express, a single document could add over £500 to the value of your EV. But what exactly is a State of Health report?
Paul said: “Buyers are already aware that battery condition is a crucial part of a used electric car’s value and will be more confident if there is a State of Health (SOH) report.
“On some electric cars such as the Nissan Leaf and BMW i3 this is something you can photograph on the dashboard while others will have a SOH report in the service paperwork.”
FIX KERBED WHEELS AND PAINT SCRAPES
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Bumps, scrapes and tired-looking wheels – we’ve all seen them and we all agree they take away a lot from a motor’s aesthetic.
Paul said: “This one can go either way – dealers are used to having to get repairs like this done – and can usually get them much cheaper than the general public – so it might not always make sense, but a good job could add more than £100 to the sale price.”
But Paul added: “However, don’t try and do it on the cheap – dealers will likely still knock down the value and then you have paid out twice!”
ENSURE YOU HAVE A SPARE KEY
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One major thing that car buyers often look out for is the spare key – which comes with all new cars.
Naturally, these can be lost and getting a replacement key made can be expensive, especially given the complex technology of modern fobs.
On some models, it can cost a pretty penny.
Paul said: “Buyers will expect a used car to be supplied with at least two working keys and a replacement can cost up to £1,100.
“If you can’t find it, the buyer will simply subtract the cost from the value of your car, so it is worth turning your house upside down for.”
LOCATE ALL THE PAPERWORK
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Keeping hold of your documents doesn’t take too much effort at all, and when the time comes to flog your wheels, handing them over along with the keys can add £100s to your asking price.
“Selling a car without the V5C registration document is almost impossible,” said Paul.
“So if you can’t find it you will need to allow up to 25 days to apply for a duplicate from the DVLA or take a big hit on the value.
“If you have a cherished plate, it’s also worth transferring it if you can before you sell.”
PROVIDE A FULL SERVICE HISTORY
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‘Full service history’ is a common selling point found in car classifieds, and it can make a significant difference to serious buyers.
According to Auto Express, it could add over £1,200 to a car’s value, as lacking one may risk voiding the warranty in some circumstances.
Paul added: “All buyers love seeing FSH in an advert, but they’ll want proof—stamps, receipts, or both.
“For brands like Kia and MG, a missing service history can void the warranty, meaning buyers need to buy extended cover, which can cost £1,200.
“Some cars even store history digitally in the key, so it’s worth digging through emails to find records.”
FIX YOUR WINDSCREEN
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No one wants to drive away in their next car with a chipped windscreen.
It’s ugly at best and dangerous at worst, and is something that cost from £50 to £120 to repair.
But having it repair can feasibly adding over £1,000 to a car’s valuation, according to Auto Express.
Paul added: “This one is a bit of a no brainer.
“A chipped windscreen can knock £1,000 off your car’s value, but most insurance covers repairs without affecting your no-claims.
“A small excess beats a big price drop—so fix it before you sell.”
TAKE DECENT PICTURES
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Selling your car privately can be the best way to get plenty bang for your buck – such as by using Auto Express’ Sell My Car service.
But you’ll need to take good, high-quality pictures of your car, showing both the exterior and interior in detail.
Paul said: “To get the best price for your car, sell it privately – the safest route is using a car buying service like Auto Express’ own Sell My Car, where dealers bid against each other for stock.
“But whichever you choose, getting decent pictures will be essential.
“There is no need to glam it up, but you do need to show the car as it is, including any damage and paperwork.
“The Sell My Car portal guides you through the process. Just be honest – that way, you avoid problems down the line and get the best price for your car.”
