Get the best resale value

When you are buying a new vehicle, you are not necessarily thinking about its resale value. After all, you probably are not planning on selling it for a while, and you figure you will worry about that later. That said, most of the factors that influence depreciation cannot be controlled after you’ve actually bought your vehicle. It’s when you are buying a new car, truck or sport utility vehicle that you can control certain factors that will help you improve long term resale value.

The best deal is not always in the price

When you are buying a new car, you are obviously looking to get the best price. Manufacturer rebates are offered on almost every new car offered on the market, but what you want to pay attention to are the aggressiveness of the rebates. If there are too many rebates, that may mean that a given vehicle is not selling as well as it should, and ultimately its resale value will struggle.

Don’t buy a car that only you want

Popularity is the key to reducing depreciation. A vehicle’s popularity is dictated by a variety of factors, but things like color, equipment, fuel economy and other elements are key. So opt for the most fuel-efficient engine, colors that are not too extravagant, and a good level of equipment.

Make sure it’s reliable

A vehicle’s reliability will influence its popularity. Check various owner forums to ensure that a car is not problematic, and browse studies from Consumer Reports and other trusted sources. By doing so, you will get an idea of a vehicle’s reliability, and you will avoid being stuck with trying to sell a car that has a poor reputation.

Thank you to Gyro Mazda for their help with this article.