Auton arvo – miten säilytän sen parhaiten?

Many car buyers think about value retention even at the dealership when considering a trade-in. How can you maintain the value of your newly purchased car, whether new or used, to get the best possible price when it's time for another trade-in? It's not rocket science, but let's briefly review how to take care of your car's value.

Regular maintenance most clearly affects your car's value, but especially with newer cars, it's important to stick to the recommended service intervals.

Using the manufacturer's authorized service center ensures that your car is maintained according to manufacturer guidelines with original parts. Service documentation is now electronic and stored in the car, which authorized service centers can definitely access.

However, always ensure that your chosen service center uses quality parts, even if you're servicing an older car outside of authorized dealerships, and keep your maintenance receipts well organized if they cannot be recorded in an electronic service book, or if your car doesn't have one.

If the car's service history cannot be verified, or if maintenance hasn't been performed on time, it will directly impact the car's value when selling.

Does the front end make unusual noises when driving over deep potholes? Unusual sounds that aren't part of normal driving may indicate developing problems, perhaps with the suspension, which should be addressed quickly.

Small maintenance tasks can also be performed on the paint surface to keep the car looking presentable and rust-free for a long time. Small chips caused by stones and studs can be fixed yourself with touch-up paint and clear coat pens. This prevents further clear coat damage or rust from affecting your car.

When was the last time you properly washed your car instead of just giving it a quick rinse? Or has the interior ever seen a vacuum cleaner or microfiber cloth?

Upholstery and exterior panels won't lose their luster as easily if you include regular and more thorough cleaning in your routine, perhaps every three months. Driving is more enjoyable when the sun reveals a clean dashboard surface rather than a layer of dust. Your car's value and prestige are preserved when surfaces shine both inside and out!

...but consists of small, everyday actions. Even when brushing snow off in winter, use gentle force on the body panels. Ice on the surface can cause scratches if scraped too hard – it's worth thoroughly defrosting your car occasionally in a parking garage if you don't have a warm, dry garage at home.

You can easily check your car's current market value with Saka if you've been thinking about selling or trading in. Contact our buyers if you just want to sell your car, otherwise explore our selection of about 4,000 cars and start negotiating a trade!