
How Your Car’s Paint Job Can Increase or Decrease Its Value
When the time comes to sell your car after owning it for several years, there are quite a few things that can influence how much you can resell it for. While certain things like accident history or the make and model of the car are important, you may be surprised to learn that the paint and its quality also play a significant role in the resale value.
Understanding how much the paint affects resale value can help you get the best price for your vehicle. Here’s what to know if you plan to sell your vehicle soon and how colour and quality can increase or decrease its value.
Your Car’s Paint Colour and Its Resale Value
Several studies have shown that a vehicle’s paint colour can have a significant impact on its value. Certain colours hold their value differently than others, and when paired with certain vehicle types, they can all influence the overall resale value. When you consider these factors, you can make a more informed decision to maximise your vehicle’s worth.
Common vs. Uncommon Colours
Standard colours like black, white, beige, or silver do not usually add much value to a car. Beige is known for its potential to depreciate more quickly than any other colour.
Less common colours tend to hold their value better over time. The studies showed that yellow and orange vehicles depreciate at 27-30 per cent, whereas black and silver cars depreciate at higher rates of 33.6-34 per cent.
Vehicle Type
Surprisingly, the impact of paint colour on resale value can vary depending on the type of vehicle. For more practical vehicles like sedans, SUVs, and trucks, neutral colours are often more desirable and maintain demand due to their perceived practicality and lower maintenance. However, for muscle cars or convertibles, the brighter, less conventional colours can boost the car’s resale value as they appeal more to collectors or enthusiasts searching for something more unique.
Production and Rarity
The relationship between colour and resale value is also influenced by how rare a colour is. Some colours can achieve collector status due to their limited availability.
A certain number of models may be produced with varied colours, and not all dealerships stock every shade. The more rare the colour, the higher the value of the car, especially if that colour becomes more highly sought after.
Popularity and Trends
Just because a car’s colour is uncommon doesn’t always mean it will hold a higher value. Colours like purple, brown, and gold are more likely to lose their value over time.
Trends can come and go, making certain colours go out of style and depreciate more rapidly. Car manufacturers will actually employ teams to predict future colour trends, trying to anticipate shifts in consumer preferences.
Care and Maintenance
There are some practical reasons certain colours sustain their popularity compared to others. For example, white cars are often preferred in warmer climates because they reflect sunlight and can stay cooler. White is also less likely to show scratches and imperfections, which is appealing to those who want a low-maintenance option.
Location
The demand for certain car colours can vary depending on their geographic location. One colour might be popular in one region but won’t have the same appeal elsewhere. Understanding the regional demands can be crucial when selling a car, as some colours might demand higher prices based on location.
The Quality of Your Car’s Paint
While the colour of your car can affect its resale value, the condition of the paint is just as important. Poor paint quality, including scratches or dents, can decrease value considerably. Consider these factors that may lower your car’s resale value:
- Buildup and grime from not regularly washing your vehicle
- Accumulated scratches, swirls, and dings over time
- Dents and scratches that have caused superficial rust to form
- The car wasn’t detailed before selling, leaving it look less appealing
- Bumper stickers or other adornments have affected the paint’s appearance
When you take care of your car’s paint by keeping it clean and free of damage, you help maintain its value when the time comes to sell.
Turn to Caversham Coachworks for Auto Paint Repair in Caversham and Abingdon
At Caversham Coachworks, we want you to get the best value when selling your vehicle. We offer a variety of services, such as alloy wheel refurbishment, cooling systems and air-conditioning maintenance, paintless dent removal, swift same-day repairs, steering component repairs, the use of genuine parts, and electrical system maintenance and refurbishment.
We have convenient locations in Caversham and Abingdon and are here to help with traditional, modern, hybrid, and EV vehicles with our state-of-the-art equipment. Whether you’re looking for a new paint job or simple touch-ups, contact us today or use our free and easy estimator tool.