Does Detailing Your Car Increase Used Car Value?

Before selling your car there are some things you need to know in order to maximize profit. Some of the main things that affect your car’s selling value include mileage, condition, options, or your ability to present and sell it to potential buyers. Cleanliness and proper photos can make or break a deal. The question you need to ask yourself is, do you want to make the most of your car? This leads us to our next blog post. Does detailing your car increase used car value?

SPOILER ALERT: IT DOES!! and we are going to tell you why!

What Determines the Value of a Used Car?

1. Mileage, condition, and options. 

Mileage is an easy but critical factor in determining the value of a car. It is closely related to the age of the vehicle and its condition. A car loses value every year (with the exception of specialty cars) from its first drive off the lot or entry into service. We consider the average mileage per year of a car to be 15,000 km for gas vehicles and 25,000 km for diesel. Options and extras play a decisive role when buying or reselling your car. Indeed, the value of a car increases according to the options offered: sound system, sunroof, convertible, and other similar extras inflate the final selling price of your car. A car that is older or with high mileage is not typically very valuable or in demand. This is why on the second-hand market, the most sought-after models are 2-3 years old. Remember to maintain your car well, detail it regularly and keep its maintenance up to date.

2. Where you choose to sell your car. 

A car’s value can depend on whether you decide to privately sell or sell to a dealership. If you decide to sell to a dealer, many things should come into consideration including their location, inventory, google rating and customer satisfaction, and cleanliness of their showroom. If you are selling privately to an individual, you can expect a higher price because you have the ability to negotiate, but also because dealerships normally offer you the black book value of a car. (Black Book is what dealers usually refer to when trying to figure out how much a used vehicle or trade in is worth.) Although selling to a dealership is much easier and less of a headache, you may lose quite a bit of money.

3. The ability to negotiate.

The final value at which your car will be sold depends mainly on factual elements, such as mileage and options however you can still influence the value of your car by negotiating the selling price. It is not as easily possible to negotiate with a dealer as opposed to an individual. If you decide to sell your vehicle privately, knowing how to highlight the vehicle’s options and finish and beauty can all be done with proper photos. Cavalli Stables can help you with anything you need in regards to photographing or detailing your vehicle prior to selling. 

4. Personalizing a car affects its value.

Items such as custom wheels, performance upgrades, or body enhancements may add value to particular cars but may also depreciate the value of certain cars. Tastes differ from person to person, so knowing your market is key to selling privately. By following this logic, you can be successful in selling your car. The colour of a car can also be an important point in determining the value of your car. A white, gray or black, is easier to sell than a pink or yellow car.

5. New models influence the value of a car.

Each time a new, more efficient model enters the automotive market, all cars in the same range can lose value. Even new, older models then stay with dealers for a long time and see their values drop rapidly. On the second-hand market, it’s the same principle: a new model can lower the value of a used car. Many factors influence the value of a used car. However, the rules are not absolute; what is true for a sports car with a manual transmission may not be true for a family car.

How Detailing a Vehicle Can Improve Overall Value

Now we’ll briefly tell you about three important parts of your car that need detailing and how it will increase your used car value. 

1. Exterior Detailing

Over time, environmental factors such as snow, salt, or UV rays can fade and crack your vehicle’s clear coat and paint if it’s not protected properly. UV rays can make the paint lose its shine and fade very quickly. The body of your car can suffer from oxidation or also known as rust can destroy your vehicle’s body and paint. That’s why a professional detailing service for a used car can rejuvenate its look and increase its value. Professional detailing services made with professional products like the ones we use at Cavalli Stables can protect your car’s paint from the sun’s UV rays and work against oxidation.  

2. Interior Detailing

Have you noticed how clean the interior of used cars is at a dealership? Successful dealerships know how important it is for their cars to look good and clean and that is why before they put the “for sale” mark on their cars, they do a complete detailing. The interior of your car can be affected by a lot of different factors that have the potential to ruin it. For example, the sun’s UV rays can be dangerous for the interior.  It can cause fading, cracking, and speed up normal wear and tear on the dashboard or your beautiful leather seats. Especially if you have kids or pets, the interior can become a messy and dirty place filled with bacteria and germs. The professionals at Cavalli Stables will ensure that after the interior detailing on your used car, your car’s value is increased as well. We use only high-quality products and tools in order to clean and protect the various materials used on the interior of your vehicle. After detailing at Cavalli Stables, your car will feel brand new and fresh, and potential buyers will see the quality and care put into maintaining it. 

3. Detailed Engines Boost a Car’s Value.

Even if your car’s engine works well, many potential buyers open the hood to take a look, even if they have no idea how it works or what each part does. However, seeing a clean engine bay is something that anyone can understand and that is detrimental in properly selling a used car and getting the most money for it. What a lot of people don’t understand is the emotional effect that a vehicle can have and that makes 80% of the sale. Even if you do not want to sell it, cleaning and detailing your engine will help keep your car running at its full potential.

Why choose us?

We are a 5-star google and Yelp rated company offering everything from mobile automotive detailing and ceramic coating to industrial disinfection, sanitization, and fogging. Cavalli Stables Mobile Unit offers a revolutionary way to clean. With the use of steam vapour and trijet fogging, we are able to powerfully clean, sanitize and disinfect a variety of different things including, but not limited to: vehicle interior and exteriors, furniture, condo disinfection,  public areas, medical clinics, daycares, restaurants, gyms, and public transit vehicles. We are able to safely, effectively, and naturally disinfect anything that is exposed to bacteria, and all is done in the comfort of your home, office, or business. Don’t hesitate to call us with any questions. we know you will be happy and satisfied with our service, that you won’t want to go anywhere else!