Does Maintenance Service Improve A Car’sValue?

The short answer is “yes, routine car maintenance and service improves auto value.” Let’s review certain dynamics we observe in the pricing of cars. If money were no issue, more people would acquire a new car with a bumper-to-bumper warranty. The warranty covers certain repairs for typically the first 3 to 5 years or 36,000 to 50,000 miles of ownership. However, new cars suffer a 20% reduction in value in the first year of ownership and 10% depreciation every year thereafter. In other words, a $40,000 car today might be worth only $16,000 five years from now!

In the past couple of decades, auto dealerships began offering certified pre-owned (CPO) cars that cost less than new cars but provided limited warranty for up to 100,000 miles on the odometer or 24 months of ownership. Certified pre-owned vehicles sell at a premium relative to other used vehicles. Typically, CPO vehicles benefit from regular maintenance and service and undergo a multi-point vehicle inspection.

If the maintenance service and repair history of the car exceeds a threshold, then the car is included in a “CPO program” or deemed a certified-used-vehicle eligible for an extended car warranty, such as 24-hour roadside assistance. If you’d like to be able to sell your car closer to full value, being able to provide a record of car maintenance helps.

Routine car maintenance and service includes items such as:

• Oil Change (every 3,000 to 10,000 miles)
• Air Filters (engine and cabin)
• Tire rotation
• Tire replacement (every 30,000 to 50,000 miles)
• Brake Pad Inspection
• Spark Plugs
• Battery
• Fluids
• Annual Inspection
• Check engine light (or other computer diagnostics)

Consult your owner’s manual for recommended service intervals. Consider the published guideline as a minimum interval since driving conditions are not uniform. In the Northeast, the weather is more extreme as temperatures dip below zero in the winter and soar above 100 in the summer. Salt used on snow can be more corrosive to mechanical parts. Driving on pot-hole laced asphalt or dusty roads present other challenges. The stop and go pattern of urban driving or extended heavy towing strains engines in atypical ways.

Keep Up with Your Car’s Service & Maintenance Schedule

If you want peace of mind, keep your pre-owned carmaintenance schedule. To avoid unexpected auto repair, commit to an inspection routine that prevents or identify issues before they magnify. In addition to observing milestones on your odometer, track the age of various components and fluids. Over time, for example, the compound in tires begin to break down or the additives in engine oil likewise lose effectiveness.

Get Car Service & Maintenance with Our Team

At Fred’s Auto, our ASE Certified Mechanics check all of the various systems of your car for you. Once your car is entered into our system, we keep track of your service intervals and can produce those records for you or any third party as needed. Servicing your carat Fred’s will not void the manufacturer or dealership warranty.  Our BG Fluid Lifetime Guaranty provides up to $24,000 additional insurance against out of pocket costs for those covered elements that stay within the prescribed maintenance schedule. Every week, our loyal customers entrust us with servicing dozens of their cars that we’ve help to last in excess of 100,000 miles.

Schedule an appointment with us today to help assure your car continues to perform as expected for many more tomorrows.