Should you clean your car before selling it?

Clean before taking the advert photographs

Photograph the car after it has been cleaned, in daylight and in an uncluttered location. Take a consistent set of images showing each side, the wheels, interior, dashboard, boot and any important marks. Our own recent work is photographed the same way, for the same reason.

Focus on the details buyers notice first

Remove rubbish from storage areas and vacuum obvious loose dirt if you are cleaning the interior.

• Bodywork and lower panels
• Wheels and visible tyre sidewalls
• Windows, mirrors, lights and number plates
• Dashboard, seats, mats and boot
• Door shuts and obvious touch points

Do not hide damage

A clean vehicle should make inspection easier, not disguise defects. Photograph and describe meaningful scratches, dents, warning lights or interior damage honestly. A one-off Setup Wash is the sensible choice before a sale, rather than starting a plan you will not need.

Handing back a PCP or lease car

A finance return is judged against the BVRLA Fair Wear and Tear standard, the benchmark inspectors work from. The BVRLA advises appraising the car yourself 10 to 12 weeks before the return date, which leaves time to sort anything fixable.

Cleaning changes what that appraisal sees. Stains, ground-in pet hair and muddy carpets read as neglect, and dirty wheels make ordinary kerbing look worse than it is. Check every mat is present and both keys are there, because missing items are usually charged for. The add-ons that apply here are pet hair removal at £20, stain and spill removal from £15, leather clean and condition at £25 and fabric protection at £25.

Cleaning stops fair wear being logged as damage. It does not remove damage: a scored wheel, a torn seat or a dented door is chargeable whether the car arrives clean or filthy.

A replacement car usually arrives within days of the old one going back, which makes the changeover the natural moment to start a maintenance plan. The new car gets its Premium Setup Wash while it is still in the condition you want to hold.

Keep documents and belongings separate

Remove personal data, receipts, parking permits and anything showing your home or work details before taking photographs. Keep service records and documents organised, but only show sensitive information to a genuine buyer when appropriate.

Book the clean with enough time to spare

Try not to arrange the clean immediately before a buyer arrives. Leave time for the car to dry, move it into a good photo position and take the full advert set while it still looks fresh.