Want to buy a new car? Maybe you need more space for work, and a van is what you’re really interested in? Well, no matter the vehicle you end up buying, it’s going to cost a large chunk of change. 

Pexels Image – CC0 Licence

That’s why you should treat all vehicle purchases as the investment they really are. That means taking proper care of a car, van, or lorry after buying it, as according to the tips down below. Give them a look over and see if they can add to the lifespan of your vehicle, and ensure you get the most bang for your buck! 

Buy the Right One

This will always be the number one thing to keep in mind when you want to make a vehicle investment. You need to buy the right car not only for your needs, but for the money you’re going to spend on it. After all, the more you use the car, the lower a level the value is going to drop to, so you want to start off as high as possible! 

Do your research into the model of the car you’re interested in before you buy one. You want to be sure about the length of time you can keep the car before you need to do value adding maintenance, specifically. In the meantime, usual maintenance should be just fine, as keeping a car in good condition at all times is the best course of action. 

Drive Carefully

When you drive carefully, you make sure your vehicle lasts for another day. Do this often enough and you’ll be coming home in the same car for years on end. That means you won’t need to fork out for a new one after being in an accident, and you won’t have to pay for an expensive repair after a breakdown. 

If you need a refresh on driving safely and carefully, sign up for a refresher course. These are available to all drivers after qualifying, and it’s never a bad thing to double check you’re as good behind the wheel as you think you are! Otherwise, try to drive defensively as much as possible. 

Clean Once a Week

Cleaning your car needs to happen a little more regularly than most people realise. Indeed, most people seem to only clean their vehicles when it’s time for an MOT, but this simply isn’t enough if you want to retain value in your investment. Cleaning prevents muck from getting stuck on and becoming part of the design! 

Indeed, it’s much better to clean a vehicle around once a week. You don’t even need to pay for a professional clean either; just get a bucket of soapy water and go over the outer shell and let it dry. You can then get a handheld vacuum on the inside, along with a couple of antibacterial wipes for the dashboard and leather seats. 

Keep an Eye on the Tires

The right tires make the world of difference. You’re going to need to fit the right ones onto your car every single time you get a wheel changed or maintained. If there’s a spare in the boot right now, double check it’s the right type to fit onto your vehicle. You don’t want to be stranded in the middle of nowhere AND be forced to change onto an equally bad tire! 

You should also keep an eye on tire pressure and make sure it’s up to standard whenever you pull through a petrol station. Even a small imbalance in tire pressure can cause problems for the wheel rims, which could mean a lengthy and expensive repair in the near future. 

Invest in a Personalised Number Plate

A personalised number plate is a great way to add value to a vehicle as it gets older and older. You can’t quite make the vehicle young again, or make it seem like it’s brand new, but you can put some of that original value back into it through the use of private plates. 

This way you won’t be totally out of money when the time comes to sell. Unless your plan is to scrap the car once you’re done with it, this is a good way to recur some of that original investment. Make sure you get the plates registered properly after you invest in them, and double check the numbers you’ve gone for will be legal on UK roads. 

Store it Safely

When you park the car, is it open to the elements? If so, it’s time to invest in a car cover you can wrap it in at night. You don’t want harsh elements like extreme heat or cold to be the killer when you’re trying to retain car value! 

Or, if you have a garage to keep the vehicle in, and you’d know it’d fit according to the height restrictions, make sure you can actually use this space as well. If it’s being used as an excess store room right now, clear it out! 

Get the Best Insurance

And finally, remember that the best insurance provides the best cover. That means you don’t have to pay out of pocket for anything, or for very little, and you’ll have a strong policy behind you if anything happens outside of a usual car accident. For example, if the car is stolen or vandalised, a good insurance policy will pay out – not just ask where the vehicle was being kept! Plus (this might be surprising!), the more forgiving your insurance policy is, the more likely you are to keep the vehicle in good condition. 

Any and all vehicles count as investment. Even when it’s over 20 years old and you got it off Facebook marketplace, treat it as well as you can. Your car will last a much longer time when you spend time taking care of it, and that’ll help to retain its value as well. So, if you don’t want to spend again too soon, pay attention to the tips above!

Personalised Number Plate

About the Author: John Loughran