We spend a lot of time in our cars, whether it’s commuting to and from work, driving for a weekend getaway or to visit friends or family. It’s only natural, therefore, for us to want to be as comfortable as possible in our car, and this might mean looking at personalisation options that we can have done or even do ourselves as DIY projects. From sound to shade, here are a few things that you can do to give your car some personality while adding value.
Get a Custom Private Plate
While it’s important to personalise and modify your car to your own taste, particularly when it comes to bodywork kits, adding a bit of personality to the car can actually increase its value. One of the most popular ways of doing this is by using a service that can assist you with registering private plates for your car.
There are a few rules about what plates you can use, but if you can find something that is unique to the car make or model, it can be a great value addition to your car. For example, If you have a Renault Clio and can get a number plate like “CL10 REN”, it is a great way to personalise your car using private plates, and perhaps increase the value too.
Replace the Rims and Tyres
There’s a balance between going too far with custom rims and choosing something that adds class and sophistication to your car. If chosen correctly, custom rims and tyres can make a marked improvement on the handling, performance and even the fuel economy of your car. They can also look great, and often better than the factory fitted rims – particularly if you have steel rims with hubcaps. They’re cost effective and they look great, which is why they’re one of the most common personalisation options that car owners opt for.
While on the subject of tyres, have a look and see if all four of the tyres (and even the spare tyre) are in roadworthy condition and that they match. They should be the same brand and tyre model and size. It’s a simple thing to check, but it can make a difference to the price your car might fetch when it’s time to sell.
Get the Windows Tinted
Tinted windows don’t exist to keep other road users from being able to see into your car. Their actual purpose is two-fold. First, they create a barrier for the sun, which drastically reduces the interior temperature of the car, both while you’re driving and while it’s stationary. Secondly, the film that is applied to the window creates an anti-smash coating, which makes it harder for potential thieves to smash the window and gain access to your car.
There are, of course, some rules about how dark a tint is allowed to be, and you usually can’t tint the windscreen, but it’s a personalisation that adds actual value to your car, and it’s not expensive to get it done.
Change the Lights to LED Bulbs
If your car still has old-school bulbs, you should check if you’re able to change them to LED lights. Not only are LED lights brighter and better at illuminating the road, but they also last longer than regular bulbs. There are more bulbs in the average car than you might realise, like headlights, indicators, interior lights, brake lights, fog lights and even boot lights. You can change all of these bulbs for LED ones if they aren’t already.
For the most part they can simply be swapped out for the appropriate LED bulb. The most complicated change is the indicator lights, but even here there are LED bulb replacements available. Do some research before you make your purchases or leave it up to a professional to do if you’re not confident.
Fit a Good Sound System
Since we need our eyes for the road, listening to the radio, music, podcasts or even a good audiobook has long been associated with spending time in the car. A good sound system and head unit can greatly improve the value of your car. Out of the factory, unless the original owner of the car has opted for a better sound system, most car systems are quite basic and don’t offer much in the way of vibrant sound, particularly if you love listening to music behind the wheel.
The good news is that many car manufacturers offer upgrades to the standard sound system for your specific car if it’s a newer model and getting the manufacturer’s system installed is always first prize. If there isn’t an upgrade available for your car, there are plenty of third-party systems and options available to you, so have a look what you can get. Ideally, you’ll want to keep the speakers in the car’s original cut-outs in the door or boot and not go too crazy with car amplifiers and subwoofers, as there is a point where a custom system might become a deterrent to buyers rather than a value add.
Stick to the Service Schedule
While it’s not strictly personalisation, it can have a huge impact on the sale price of your car. One of the very first things any prospective buyer or car dealership will look at when it comes time to part with your car is the service history. This service history is recorded in a book that is usually kept in the car’s cubby hole. It’s simply a record of the times your car has been services by an authorised dealer and a record that you’ve ensured that the car has received all of the services that the car maker recommends at the right times, usually at least annually or as the car reaches a specific mileage.
Without this car service book, a dealer or buyer won’t have a record of services and this may quickly negatively affect the purchase price of the car. Always make sure that you take your car to get these services and that the dealership completes this service record book.
Keep it Detailed
No matter if the paintwork and bodywork on your car is original or not, you want to keep it protected and looking its best, and this can be achieved with a regular car detailing. This is a very cost-effective way of keeping your car looking great, and you can either take it to a professional, which will of course cost a bit more, or do it yourself at home. As part of this detailing, a car wax is applied to the whole exterior bodywork to protect it from the elements and give it a clean, glossy appearance.
Adding value to a car can be challenging, as they tend to be one of the most depreciating assets that we own. Aside from keeping the engine, interior and bodywork in good order, the things that add value to a car tend to be things that will make time behind the wheel for potential buyers more comfortable and entertaining. Set your sights on keeping personalization choices generic enough to appeal to most buyers, and you’ll be able to quickly add value to your car while being able to enjoy them yourself while you’re still driving the car. Get detailed information about the latest models of automobiles on this dedicated website: https://newstable.org/.
