Preparing your Car for Sale
A few quick and easy jobs could add hundreds of pounds to your car’s value before selling.
We show you the essential steps to preparing your car.
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View our step-by-step picture guide to preparing your car
Car maintenance checks
Car buyers love to check under the bonnet when viewing a car. The following checks will ensure your car is in great shape before selling:
• Check your oil level and fill accordingly. Clean oil looks far better than sludgy treacle
• Fill all water and coolant bottles up
• Check your tyre pressure and replace any worn or damaged tyres
• You can steam-clean the engine bay but avoid going overboard – some buyers may think you’re trying to hide faults. Take care with older cars, as steam-cleaners can sometimes damage fragile parts or connections
• Clean out leaves and debris from the air intakes and make the engine bay appear well looked-after
Washing your car
Cleaning your car can greatly increase your chances of selling it – without costing the world. Here’s how to make your car gleam with pride:
What you’ll need
• Car shampoo
• Sponge
• Bucket or hose
• Leather chamois
• Car wax or polish
• Window cleaner and cloth
• Vacuum cleaner
• Low-gloss cleaner
Avoid using washing-up liquid, as this can cause rust.
Search for car care products at Auto Trader’s Car Accessories Shop.
Cleaning the exterior
1. Clean the car from top to bottom using a good-quality car shampoo. Don’t forget wheel arches, bumpers, outer skirts and inner door panels
2. Rinse the car thoroughly with a hose or bucket of water
3. Dry with a chamois leather
4. Clean the wheels. Use a special alloy wheel cleaner if dirt is particularly stubborn to remove
5. Use car wax or polish to create the perfect sheen. Don't worry if paint residue appears on the cloth – this is just a layer of ‘dead paint’
Stone chips can be removed with a paint touch-up stick. These aren’t expensive and can dramatically improve your car’s presentation.
Minor dents can be repaired but be realistic – if your car isn’t worth much more than the cost of repairs, it might not be worth it.
Consider replacing any wheel trims and repair damaged alloys, especially if they’ve been kerbed.
Finally, missing badges stand out like a sore thumb, so consider buying replacements before putting your car up for sale.
Cleaning the interior
1. Vacuum the carpets, mats, seats, dashboard, door trims and any dusty crevices.
2. Remove mats and vacuum the carpet underneath. If these are particularly grubby, you may need to wash them with shampoo
3. Use low-gloss cleaner on the dashboard (avoid household polish)
4. Clean glass using a window cleaner and damp chamois – wipe in a side-to-side motion on the rear window to avoid damaging heating elements
5. Empty ashtrays and cubby holes before spraying and wiping them clean
Remove ink stains and cigarette burns from the upholstery. You can do this yourself using surgical spirit, but be careful as it can discolour your car’s upholstery – not all do, but check before buying.
It may be worthwhile to pay a professional – research shows an average cost of up to £3,483 is lost on a car with a stained interior.
Money-saving cleaning tips
• Buy an all-in-one car cleaning kit rather than separate items
• Wash your car yourself
• Use a bucket rather than a hose if you're on a water meter – you’ll save money on your bill
• Check the weekly weather report and clean your car after a rainy day and before a string of dry days – you won’t have to pay for another car wash as soon, and your car will look cleaner for longer
Video: How to prepare your car for sale
Watch TV’s used car expert Jason Dawe show you how to prepare your car before selling:
Advertise your car on Auto Trader now
View our step-by-step picture guide to preparing your car
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