Drivers warned doing this in your car could cost you £2,000 | Personal Finance | Finance
Motorists have been advised that smoking in your vehicle could significantly slash its value when you come to sell it. This is a particular concern for cars with lower mileage that may fetch a higher price.
Research from online car seller Carwow found that lighting up regularly in a vehicle with 10,000 miles on the clock could cost you £2,600 when you come to sell your motor. If you have 100,000 mileage, you could still lose out on over £400.
Siobhan Doyle, consumer writer at Carwow, said: “Cigarette smoke contains tiny particles that cling to upholstery, carpets and dashboards. Over time this can leave persistent odours, stains and residue that are difficult – and often expensive – to remove.”
The research looking at average valuations on the Carwow website found that the average vehicle with 10,000 miles would fetch a value of £32,798, but this drops to £30,174.44 if it was owned by a smoker, a drop of £2,623.86.
For the average vehicle with 20,000 miles on the clock, the average price of £25,007 drops to £23,006.14, a decrease of just over £2,000. You may also face an extra bill if you smoke in a car whic you are returning at the end of a lease.
If the car needs a full valet to clean it up, this could cost between £80 and £300 depending on the extent of the damage. You may think it would be less damaging to vape in your car instead, but this can cause issues too.
Ms Doyle said: “Vaping may seem less harmful by comparison, but its aerosols can still leave behind faint odours, sticky residue on surfaces and condensation in small spaces. While the effects may be less noticeable than cigarette smoke, they can still influence how clean or well-maintained a car feels to potential buyers.
“Interior condition plays a big role in resale value, and vehicles with odours or visible residue can be harder to sell. Buyers either avoid them entirely or factor the cost of deep cleaning and repairs into lower offers.”
Ms Doyle urged: “If you want to protect your car’s value, the best approach is to keep the interior smoke- and vape-free wherever possible.”
