When should you sell your car?

Selling your car has never been easy and requires some preparation. You need to think ahead to maximize your chances of success and ensure a successful sale as quickly as possible. With your vehicle’s constant depreciation, certain times are more favorable than others for reselling your car. If you want to change your car as quickly as possible, it’s important to know the right price without selling it cheaply.  Also, find out how to optimize your sale with a car wash.

The age of the vehicle

First of all, you should know that no vehicle is immune to depreciation, with a few exceptions for sports and luxury cars. For others, the phenomenon works like this:

Even if your car has low mileage and is in perfect condition, you won’t be able to resell it for close to its original purchase price. It may be worth reselling it after a year if you received a significant discount.

Over the following 3 years, the discount phenomenon is fairly constant over time and varies between 8 and 10%.

After 4 years, your car will cost about 50% less than the purchase price. The depreciation phenomenon gradually slows down from the fifth year and is more or less pronounced depending on the car’s mileage but also the popularity and rarity of the model. Most of the time, it is the high-end models that have a more or less stable value beyond 6 or 7 years.

Between the 5th and 10th year, the discount is more or less constant and is around 5%.

The distance traveled

You can sell your car before the psychological barrier of 100,000 km is reached. In reality, it becomes more difficult to sell a petrol car after 120,000 km and a diesel car after 150,000 km. If you only drive 10,000 km per year, try to keep your car as long as possible to make it profitable. Conversely, for those who drive a lot, between 20,000 and 25,000 km per year, it is more interesting to sell your car around the 5-year mark.

Pay attention to current events

Take a look at the latest automotive news, because if a new generation comes out, the price will drop faster. Especially if the new model is a big hit.

Preparing your car for resale

Whether you’re selling your car to a professional or a private individual, a thorough, professional cleaning is essential. The buyer needs to have complete confidence in your car, so it must be in impeccable condition. You need to show the buyer that your car has been properly maintained. Your car must be so perfect that you’d almost be tempted to keep it…

Wash recommends that you opt for a hand wash, which will allow you to thoroughly examine both the interior and exterior of your vehicle. A visit to a professional hand wash service will ensure a perfect clean without any effort!

Floor mats,  seats , back seat, glove compartment, dashboard, steering wheel, everything must be thoroughly combed. If you have  leather seats , you can use a special product that can give them a better appearance. Also remember to get rid of  unpleasant odors  that can quickly scare away the buyer.