Drivers thinking of selling their car have been urged to do one thing that can help to add around a thousand pounds to its value. April is one of the best months of the year to sell a used car, with prices rising significantly as the supply of pre-owned models falls after the notoriously busy weeks of March.
However, in order to get the best possible price when selling their old car, Auto Trader suggested that drivers pay close attention to all the small details. They said: “Sellers often underestimate how much minor damage can impact negotiations, and our study highlights how a low-cost repair like alloy wheel refurbishing can save hundreds, when selling a vehicle.
“For those looking to put their car on the market, assess your alloys before listing it, and if there’s visible damage, get a repair quote as this could result in getting the best price.”
In particular, Auto Trader recommended that motorists thinking of selling their car look at the condition of the alloy wheels fitted.
Despite being an all too common issue, particularly on cars fitted with low-profile tyres, alloys that have been grazed along the kerb can immediately look significantly less attractive.
According to a survey of 1,000 drivers from across the UK, 64% said that they would think twice before buying a car with scraped wheels, with 13.6% expecting a price reduction of at least £501 to £1,000.
Fortunately, the cost involved in restoring alloy wheels is not always as significant as most motorists expect, with minor cases being fixed for around £60 to £120 per affected wheel.
Hannah Gordon, automotive expert from Womanic, suggested that drivers could also be able to remove minor damage themselves by carefully sanding the wheel.
She said: “For minor damage people can refurb their own wheels using wet and dry sanding paper to take the old paint off and also smooth the wheel, before using aerosol primer, wheel paint and lacquer. All these items can be bought from motoring shops or online.”
