'I spent £5 and managed to add hundreds to my car before selling it'

Selling a used car can be frustrating and time-consuming, with many drivers going the extra mile to get the highest amount for their vehicle. Whilst almost all cars lose value over the years , there are a number of simple and particularly cheap methods that drivers can use to add hundreds to their resale price . According to Halfords , one of the most effective ways to increase the value of a used car is by tackling any rogue scratches and scuffs on the bodywork, with a number of accessories available to hide or completely remove marks .

Andy Turbefield, a motoring expert from Halfords, suggested that one of the easiest ways to do this is by using a scratch removal pen, suggesting that drivers add a number of layers directly to the scratch. He advised: "Paint the scratch, not paint work. Build up two or three layers.



" Paint pens, available at most vehicle accessory shops, are available in a wide range of colours used by car manufacturers from around £5. However, despite being a cheap tool, they can help drivers add an average of £200 to £350 to their vehicle's value. To boost their vehicle's value, drivers should find the right coloured pen for their car, checking the paint code, which can typically be found in the owner's manual, driver's door label, or engine bay.

Once the right pen is located, it should be shaken for 60 seconds to ensure good consistency and applied in thin coats to the scratch. Depending on the severity of the scratch, motorists will likely need to apply three layers of paint to the affected area, waiting between 10 to 25 minutes between each coat. Similarly, Andy highlighted that drivers can increase their car's asking price by spending a few pounds on a specialist upholstery cleaner, which is surprisingly effective at getting rid of stains and marks.

He added: "A buyer doesn’t want to take a chance on whether a stain will come out so they’ll ask for a discount." In addition to stain removers, drivers can thoroughly give their interior a clean by mixing baking soda with a small amount of water and applying to paste to any dirty fabric, which helps to pull the stain out. Finally, the motoring expert encouraged all drivers thinking of selling their car to make sure its windscreen does not feature any chips, which could result in it losing up to £1,000 on the used market.

He explained: "A chipped windscreen can knock £1,000 off your car’s value but most insurance covers repairs without affecting your no-claims." Whilst drivers could be charged over £100 to get a replacement windscreen, most chips can be fixed quickly and, through most car insurance policies, for free..