Millions of petrol and diesel drivers could depreciate their own cars by making a simple mistake behind the wheel, according to experts at the RAC. Motoring experts at the breakdown firm warned that motorists were “wiping the value off their car” by smoking in the cockpit.
The specialists warned road users could very likely be “diminishing its sell-on value” with thousands of pounds likely lost. This is because cigarette smoke can cause “physical damage” to the interior with car seats among the areas most affected. They warned the “internal fabric” may become smelly which could make a car almost impossible to sell at a competitive rate.
Lingering cigarette odour gives buyers a negotiating tool when bartering for a vehicle which could put buyers out of pocket.
The RAC explained: “A car that has been smoked in on a regular basis can leave behind both a lingering smell and physical damage to the interior, making it difficult to trade in or sell privately.
“Cigarette smoke becomes ingrained in the upholstery and trapped in the air conditioning system, which can be incredibly difficult to remove, requiring a professional valet and special equipment to clean.
“In the most severe cases, the internal fabric and seat cloth may have to be stripped out too. This process alone can cost hundreds of pounds.”
According to HPI Vehicle, booking a professional valet to clean the vehicle and sort the air conditioning could cost motorists around £150.
Motorists will then need to add on the cost of repairing any marks, stains, and cigarette burns.
In total, they predict cars owned by heavy smokers could lose up to £2,000 off their car valuation in a major blow.
More worryingly, the experts warn that some dealers won’t even buy vehicles from smokers.
Car dealers stress that this is because of the time and expense of getting the car properly cleaned.
Jame Dower, senior editor at HPI Vehicle added: “If you’re a smoker, the first thing a dealer will do is knock back the price of your part exchange.
“That’s because a car for part-ex has to be made fit for re-sale – a process which is considerably more difficult and expensive when that car was previously driven by a smoker.”