Touch Up or Trade In?

We never really realize how dependent we are on our vehicles until we are left without one. Normal wear and tear and minor fender benders are common occurrences during the life of a car. In fact, the average driver may have three to four car accidents in his or her lifetime, which can affect the life and overall condition of your vehicle. When a car is starting to look like it needs a little TLC, it’s important to decide whether or not you should refresh or replace.

Vehicles get bumped, scratched, and battered for any number of reasons from hit-and-runs by reckless drivers in a store parking lot to inclement weather to our own fault. Even if you are a conscientious driver, the road is filled with reckless drivers. Riddle, a Raleigh Accident Lawyer says, “Reckless drivers disregard traffic laws and the overall safety of others.” Sometimes we’re reckless ourselves. How many times have you come close to scraping the car door while entering the garage or accidentally backed into an “unseen” object?

Before you decide to sell or trade, a few touch ups may be just what your vehicle needs and the price might be a little nicer.

• Set A Budget: Before you decide to touch up or trade in your vehicle, it’s wise to set a price that you’re willing to pay. Touch ups, repairs, and other vehicle costs can add up, but prices may range from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand. Choose a budget that you are comfortable with and stick with that.

• Check Out The Overall Condition: Even if your car is looking a little scruffy and is less than aesthetically pleasing, the vehicle itself may be in great working condition. Find a trusted and knowledgeable car technician and have him or her give your vehicle a thorough check up. He or she should check out your brakes, tires, fluids, timing belts, and hoses under the hood. If there are major repairs needed, get an estimate for the work. You may even want to ask the technician if he or she thinks the fixes are worth the time and money.

• Don’t Ignore The Small Stuff: If you have a small pock mark on your windshield, a small crack on your tail light, or a minor scratch to your paint job, they may be easy to ignore because they generally don’t affect your car’s performance right away. It’s a good idea to get these small things fixed before they cause bigger issues or end up costing more than you want to spend. Remember, small scratches can turn into rust, pock marks can turn into bigger cracks, and broken tail lights can lead to malfunction and/or a traffic violation.

Don’t Invest More Than Your Car is Worth

The best way to keep your car in optimum shape is to have issues fixed as soon as possible and to have a regular maintenance schedule. It may feel as if you’re paying more money every couple of months, but overall you might save yourself some money. If the repair costs are estimated to be more expensive than the worth of the vehicle, it’s time to consider a different vehicle. Even if your vehicle has a few dents and scrapes, the safety of your vehicle is your number one priority.

Need a New Ride?

Before that big adventure, make sure you are driving in style. If you are looking for a new or used car, be sure to check out the Auto Buying Service offered at OpenRoad Lending. There you can shop new and used car pricing in your area and find that car or truck of your dreams before hitting the highway.