When you buy a vehicle you should consider this vehicle as an investment. The issue is, your car loses value as soon as you start driving it. To help your car retain value there are lots of things that you can do.

1 . Maintenance checks

To improve the resale value of your car, you must keep your car in great condition. Make sure that you book in-service checks, for repairs and maintenance. To help you organize your maintenance checks, these apps may come in handy:
Autosist
With the help of the Autosist app you can organize your car records, store maintenance info, and track your gas economy. The app allows you to attach receipts, upload pictures, and scan these on the Autosist web portal.
Car Minder

The Car Minder app can help you to log your repairs, fuel economy, and maintenance checks. Using the app you can keep track of repairs and services, keeping your car in great condition.

2 . Choose the right car

Once you start driving your car, the value quickly starts to decline. The good news is, some cars lose value at a slower rate than others. By purchasing a slow depreciating car, you can retain value and potentially save money.

According to AM Online, ‘Porsche’s Cayenne E-Hybrid SUV, Tesla Model 3 and Porsche Taycan were found to retain 57.6%, 58.2% and 60.9% of their values after three years, respectively.’ These vehicles are currently some of the slowest depreciating cars you’ll find.

3. Protect your paintwork

To help your car retain value make sure that you protect the paintwork. There are several different options to protect the paint of your car:

Ceramic Coating: A ceramic coating is a kind of liquid polymer, the coating works by bonding to the paint work. Using ceramic coating you can protect your paint work from becoming damaged, chipped or faded.

Sealants: Using a sealant you can protect the paintwork of your car, keeping the paintwork as good as new. Sealants tend to last for around 6 months, yet Ceramic coating can last for up to four years.

4. Keep the mileage low

To slow down depreciation you should try to keep the mileage as low as possible. When you keep the mileage down you’ll retain the value, and you’ll save money on fuel. Here are a few ideas to help you keep the mileage down:

• Avoid driving on short journeys, consider walking, public transport, or carpooling.
• Plan your route before you drive, that way it’s easier to keep the mileage down.
• Use traffic apps like Waze to avoid congested areas.

5. Stay safe

You should drive as safely as possible at all times. Driving recklessly is incredibly dangerous and if you damage your vehicle you’ll reduce the value, and have some expensive repairs to pay for. To help you stay safe on the roads you might want to consider using apps like Life Saver or Drive Smart.

When you come to sell your car you’ll want to get the best return that you can. If you’re currently in the market to sell your vehicle check out Sell My Car Direct.