'Safe' colours pay off when selling

26 January 2010

Look after your car and your car will look after you is the advice from an online retailer - and also make sure you have good taste in colour if you want your vehicle to retain some of its value, it said.

User car firm Carsite.co.uk found that garish colours, such as yellow, orange or pink, are most likely to put off potential buyers, while silver, black or grey are more desirable options when it comes to selling your vehicle.

Carsite said: "On a small to medium car, the wrong shade can make it £200-£500 less appealing to retailers and buyers. A nearly-new executive model could be worth up to £1,000 less if the colour is expected to deter customers."

The study also found that damage to bodywork, alloys and windscreens can also significantly depreciate the value of a used vehicle by between £200 and £300.

And it appears most buyers judge a book by its cover and associate a poor appearance with poor mechanical maintenance.

Alistair Jeff of Carsite added: "A well maintained car is the best way to get a good resell valuation and fill your buyer with confidence. Keeping your car clean with an up-to-date service book and selling with a long MOT are simple, but rewarding steps to achieving this."

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