11 Products That Protect Your Car's Resale Value

Buying a car is a big investment. Your car gets you everywhere you need to be. It's important to take steps to protect your investment to ensure reliable transportation.

It's always a good idea to keep an eye on your car's resale value. Car warranties, especially if they are transferable to a new owner, also help add value to your car. Many extended warranty companies offer additional benefits, including 24/7 roadside assistance. These benefits offer peace of mind on the road.

There are additional ways to keep your car safe from exterior damage, interior damage, and theft. Taking action to protect your car can help safeguard your car and its resale value.

Exterior damage

The exterior of your car is the most visible. Preventing damage to the car's exterior will keep your car looking nice and appealing. A nice looking car that has no damage is easier to sell than one that does have visible damage.

Richard Reina, Product Training Director at CARiD.com
“It's a fact of life that you can't control how others are on the road. With busier roads, city parking, or parking lots in general, it's crucial to protect the exterior of your car. Scratches, dents, and scrapes are very common and also negatively affect the car's resale value.”

Protective coatings

Protective coatings can protect your car from minor scratches, small rock chips, and sun damage. There are several kinds of protective coatings you can put on your car:

• paint protection film
• ceramic coating
• nanotechnology windshield coating

Paint protection film

Installing paint protection film on your car's exterior protects it from minor scratches. It's almost like permanently saran-wrapping your car to keep it looking good. The film is sticky, so installers use soap and gel so that they can place and stretch it smoothly over all of the car's surfaces. If you decide to install it yourself, you'll definitely want to invite friends and family to help.

Expert insight

Laura Gonzalez, Marketing Manager for Audi Spokane
“A clear protective film goes directly onto any part of the cars exterior body panels. There are many brands that offer the film including 3M and many dealerships offer this as an option that buyers can add to new cars. The only downside is that it can be costly if you pay someone to do it and it is not exactly easy to do at home. It will also need to be replaced every couple of years as the film itself will show signs of wear.”

Ceramic coatings

Ceramic coatings offer similar protection to film. However, the ceramic coating is applied to the car's exterior and bonds with the car's paint. It's slightly easier to manage because it does not have to be stretched like film does.

Expert insight

Laura Gonzalez, Marketing Manager for Audi Spokane
“A ceramic coating is essentially a superior alternative to wax. It hardens to a clear thick finish that can last a couple of years. It will protect your car's paint from sun damage, dirt, and other contaminants. The downside is that there are special steps that must be taken in order to properly prep the paint so the sealant will last. These steps can be out of many people's ability and having it professionally installed can be costly. One of the most popular is ceramic coatings is CQuartz.”

Windshield coatings

The more sensors your windshield has, the more expensive it is to replace it if it cracks due to rack chip damage. Fortunately, you can have protective coatings applied to your windshield that make it stronger, which decreases the risk of rock chip damage that can lead to windshield replacement.

Retailer insight

Charles Bonfiglio, Tint World Automotive Styling Centers President and CEO
“If you've bought a new car and want to protect your investment, consider applying undetectable, impact and scratch resistant windshield nanotechnology. Just be sure to do your research on the installer and manufacturer, as the product is only as good as the installation, and some films don't have the longevity to create a decent return on your investment.”

Aftermarket back-up cameras and sensors

Many newer cars come with sensors and cameras that make it easier to drive safely and avoid exterior damage when backing up or pulling into a tight parking space. Even if you drive an older car, you can have these features installed in your car. If your car is under warranty, keep in mind that aftermarket installations are not usually covered. In some cases, they can also void the warranty. Be sure to talk to your warranty provider before installing any aftermarket additions.

Retailer insight

Richard Reina, Product Training Director at CARiD.com
“Rearview cameras come standard in many new vehicles, but for older or used cars, aftermarket offerings can add an extra level of safety. An example is Rear View Safety® - Custom Rear View Mirror Camera System, which provides a clear view and additional security. There are also similar offerings available for blind-spot monitoring and 360-degree vision.”

Interior damage

The next part of your car you need to protect is the interior. This means keeping your car clean and keeping up with regular maintenance.

Maintenance tracker

Car maintenance, like oil changes, needs to happen regularly to help the mechanical parts of your car function smoothly. Having a maintenance tracker can help keep you on track.

Retailer insight

Jake McKenzie, Auto Accessories Garage Content Manager
“The best way to retain your vehicle's resale value is to keep up to date on maintenance and take care of issues sooner rather than later. One of the best ways to do that is with a performance programmer such as the DiabloSport Trinity 2. This handy device will give you minute-by-minute diagnostics of the inner workings of your engine, allowing you to not only stay in the know about your engine, but fine tune your vehicle to reach peak efficiency.”

Floor and cargo mats

If you're an adventurer or live in snowy climates, you can track all kinds of dirt, snow, and ice into your car. If you don't protect your carpets, the water and dirt will be absorbed by your carpet. Your car's interior won't look new and the carpet can stain.

Retailer insight

Richard Reina, Product Training Director at CARiD.com
“All-weather floor and cargo mats are extremely important and useful. In fact, many people don't realize the importance of cargo mats, but the trunk of a vehicle can gather debris just like your passenger mats, from transporting everything from outdoor gear to groceries. WeatherTech® - Cargo Liner provides complete protection against dirt, spills and grease.”

Tossits garbage bags

Another way to keep your car looking nice is to keep the trash out. Keeping a trash bag in your car and regularly cleaning out trash when you get gas will make the space in your car nice. You also won't find trash in odd places.

Tossits are garbage bags that rest on the back of a headrest. These bags are leak-proof, which means you can throw away anything and not worry about it getting all over your car later. They're also great if you have passengers with you who get carsick. The bags tear off and seal, which makes it easy to throw them away.

Founder insight

Ben Riggan, Tossits Co-Founder and CEO
“We all knew people with messy cars, even ourselves. We are parents and we were tired of driving a mobile landfill created by our children in the back seat. We were tired of always finding wrappers, juice boxes, tissues, and miscellaneous debris left behind by our kids and even us. We all live a busy life-style, spending a lot of time in our vehicles. We needed a simple solution to help keep our cars clean…and TOSSITS was born. We have found many more uses since the creation, most coming from our children. From car sickness, to dirty diapers, to wet shoes, Tossits quickly became a must have for our friends and family. Now we want to provide all parents, commuters, and vehicle enthusiasts with the same simple life hack for keeping a clean car."

Theft

If your car is stolen, you lose your transportation. If you can't get your car back, you won't have a car to sell or trade-in when you get a new one. Fortunately, there are security cameras and systems that you can install in your car.

PureGear PureCam Connected Car Security System

PureGear PureCam is one security camera systetm to consider. It allows car owners to record and view events inside and nearby the car in realtime. Car owners can sign up for a data plan through PureGear PureCam which allows them to store and view footage. Car owners can also use SIM cards to store data.

PureCam also works like a Wi-Fi hotspot, which is an added convenience. Footage is also uploaded, so you can access it any time. Ease of access makes PureCam a nice option when looking for a good car security camera.

Developer insight

Arthur Chen, PureGear Senior Product Development Manager
“PureGear developed PureCam because we saw a gap in the market for a 4G/LTE connected car system—not just a dash cam—but a system that would provide complete security and peace of mind for the driver.

We also saw a growing demand for dash cams, a trend led by consumers. According to the CTA, U.S. wholesale shipments of dash cams are expected to hit 285,000 this year, up 20 percent from 2017. This follows market trends we're seeing as well. And Google's 2018 Automotive Trends Report noted that consumers want that "second set of eyes" while on the road. Dash cams offer protection and proof, in case of an incident.”

Owlcam

Owlcam records everything that happens to your car. It captures footage when your car is damaged while parked, records what happened during an accident and when a police officer pulls you over, and deters thieves because everything is recorded. Owlcam will even send footage to your phone instantly so that you can take quick action.

Owlcam has a data plan that its users can purchase. The data plan allows instant communication when something happens to your car. If you don't have the data plan, Owlcam will still record, you just won't get instant updates.

Owlcam also has a 911-assist feature which can be added for an additional cost.

Developer insight

Anthony Hodge, Owlcam CEO and Founder
“Owlcam is the first smart dash cam. We invented Edge AI technology that no traditional dash cam has. We pack together a 4G LTE connection, a huge processor, and inside and outside HD cameras so you can get alerts and video from your car directly to your mobile phone quickly and easily. Everyone wants video security in cars and trucks because crashes and break-ins are far too frequent. Only Owlcam can make both a 911 Assist call when a possible injury crash is sensed and send the video automatically to your phone. In a break-in, only Owlcam sends you a notification if activity is sensed when the car is parked and lets you LIVE view to see exactly what is happening, even if your car or Owlcam is stolen. In both crashes and break-ins, Owlcam delivers critical video proof you need for police and insurers, so you can protect yourself.”