What Repairs Are Worth Doing Before Selling Your Car - Cost vs Value Guide
Know which repairs add value when selling your car and which waste money. Expert analysis of cost vs return on fixes, quick wins, MOT preparation, and what to leave for the buyer.
Every repair before selling your car is an investment decision. Spend £200 to add £500 to your sale price and you've made a smart choice. Spend £500 to add £200 of value and you've wasted money.
The challenge is knowing which is which. Some repairs deliver exceptional returns - others are money pits. This guide analyses the true cost versus value of common repairs, identifies quick wins, and tells you what to leave alone.
The Golden Rule: Return on Investment
Before any repair, ask:
- How much will this cost?
- How much will it add to the sale price?
- Will buyers notice or care?
General principles:
- Cosmetic fixes often return 2-3x their cost
- Major mechanical repairs rarely return full cost
- Safety-related items must be addressed
- Perception matters as much as reality
Quick Wins: High Return, Low Cost
These repairs cost little but significantly impact buyer perception. Do all of these.
Cleaning (Return: 5-10x cost)
Cost: £20-50 (DIY) or £50-150 (professional valet)
Value added: £200-500+
The single best investment you can make. A dirty car suggests neglect. A clean car suggests care.
DIY essentials:
- Full exterior wash and wax
- Wheel cleaning and tyre dressing
- Interior vacuum and wipe-down
- Glass cleaning inside and out
- Door shuts and boot seals
- Dashboard and trim dressing
Consider professional for:
- Heavily soiled interiors
- Pet hair or odours
- Stained upholstery
- Neglected paintwork
Why it works: Buyers form impressions in seconds. Clean = cared for = reliable. The psychology is powerful.
Replacing Worn Wiper Blades (Return: 10x cost)
Cost: £15-30 for pair
Value added: £100-200 (in avoided negative impressions)
Streaky, squeaky wipers during a test drive create immediate doubt about maintenance.
Do this if:
- Blades leave streaks
- Rubber is cracked or perished
- They've not been changed in over a year
Touching Up Minor Paint Chips (Return: 3-5x cost)
Cost: £10-20 for touch-up paint
Value added: £50-100
Stone chips on the bonnet and front bumper are normal, but excessive chips suggest either high motorway use or poor care.
Best approach:
- Buy correct colour touch-up paint (dealer or Halfords)
- Fill chips rather than trying to blend
- Better than nothing, even if not perfect
- Focus on most visible areas
Replacing Burnt-Out Bulbs (Return: 10x cost)
Cost: £5-20 per bulb
Value added: £50-100 (plus avoids MOT failure)
Non-functioning lights suggest neglect and fail MOT. Buyers check this.
Check all:
- Headlights (main and dip)
- Brake lights
- Indicators
- Reverse lights
- Number plate lights
- Interior lights
Topping Up Fluids (Return: 10x cost)
Cost: £10-30 for all fluids
Value added: £50-100
Checking under the bonnet is standard buyer behaviour. Low fluids raise questions.
Top up:
- Oil (to correct level, correct grade)
- Coolant
- Brake fluid
- Washer fluid
- Power steering fluid (if applicable)
Cleaning the Engine Bay (Return: 5x cost)
Cost: £10-20 (DIY) or £30-50 (professional)
Value added: £50-100+
A clean engine bay signals meticulous ownership. It doesn't make the car run better, but it dramatically improves buyer confidence.
DIY approach:
- Cover sensitive electrics
- Use degreaser on heavy grime
- Agitate with soft brush
- Rinse carefully (avoid electrics)
- Dress plastic with trim restorer
Odour Elimination (Return: 5-10x cost)
Cost: £10-50
Value added: £100-300
Smoke, pet, or musty odours kill sales. Buyers associate smells with hidden problems.
Solutions:
- Deep interior clean
- Odour eliminator products (not air fresheners that mask)
- Ozone treatment (professional, very effective)
- Replace cabin air filter
New Floor Mats (Return: 2-3x cost)
Cost: £30-80 for quality aftermarket set
Value added: £75-150
Worn, stained mats make even clean interiors look tired. Easily fixed.
Options:
- Universal fit (cheapest)
- Model-specific aftermarket
- Original manufacturer mats (most impressive)
Medium Investment: Consider Carefully
These repairs cost more but can deliver good returns in the right circumstances.
Tyre Replacement (Return: 1.5-2x cost)
Cost: £60-150 per tyre (budget to mid-range)
Value added: £75-200 per tyre
Do this if:
- Tread below 3mm (legal minimum is 1.6mm)
- Visible damage, cracks, or bulges
- Tyres will fail MOT
Don't do this if:
- Tread above 3mm
- Tyres are premium brand with life left
- Car is very low value
Why it matters: Buyers check tyres. Worn tyres suggest either penny-pinching or imminent expense. Either puts them off.
Tip: If only one or two tyres need replacing, match the existing brand/quality if possible.
Headlight Restoration (Return: 3-5x cost)
Cost: £20-40 (DIY kit) or £50-100 (professional)
Value added: £100-200
Yellowed, hazy headlights make any car look old and neglected.
DIY approach:
- Restoration kits available from Halfords
- Involves wet sanding and polishing
- Results can be impressive
- Apply UV sealant to prevent recurrence
Professional: Often includes UV coating that lasts longer.
Alloy Wheel Refurbishment (Return: 1.5-2x cost)
Cost: £50-80 per wheel (professional refurb)
Value added: £100-150 per wheel
Do this if:
- Multiple wheels badly kerbed
- Corrosion or peeling lacquer
- Standard alloys on mid-range car
Don't do this if:
- Minor kerbing only
- Car is low value
- Aftermarket wheels of unknown desirability
Why it matters: Wheels are highly visible. Kerbed alloys suggest careless driving. Pristine wheels suggest careful ownership.
Alternative: Wheel touch-up paint (£10-15) can mask minor damage.
Minor Dent Removal - PDR (Return: 2-3x cost)
Cost: £50-100 per dent (paintless dent removal)
Value added: £100-200 per panel improved
Paintless dent removal (PDR) is highly effective for small dents without paint damage.
Good candidates:
- Car park dings
- Hail damage
- Small dents on bonnets, doors, boots
- No paint cracking or creasing
Not suitable for:
- Deep creases
- Dents on body lines
- Areas with paint damage
Why PDR specifically: Costs fraction of body shop prices, maintains original paint, often same-day service.
Brake Pad Replacement (Return: 1-1.5x cost)
Cost: £100-200 for front pads (fitted)
Value added: £100-200
Do this if:
- Pads are worn (under 3mm)
- Warning light is on
- Squealing during test drive
Don't do this if:
- Pads have reasonable life left
- You'd need to do discs too (see below)
The perception: Squealing brakes during test drive = immediate concern. Even if safe, it destroys confidence.
Fresh MOT (Return: Variable)
Cost: £55 for test, plus any repairs
Value added: £100-300+
Getting a fresh MOT before advertising has several benefits:
- "12 months MOT" is a selling point
- Removes buyer uncertainty
- Any issues are known in advance
- Clean MOT history visible online
When to do it:
- MOT due within 2 months
- You're confident car will pass
- Gives you time to fix any issues
When not to:
- MOT has 6+ months remaining
- Known issues will cause failure
- Car unlikely to pass without significant work
For understanding MOT requirements, see our MOT requirements guide.
What NOT to Fix
Some repairs cost more than they return. Leave these for the buyer (and price accordingly).
Major Engine Work
Examples: Timing belt, cylinder head, turbo replacement
Cost: £500-2,000+
Value added: Rarely recovers full cost
Why not: Buyers discount for age and mileage regardless. They won't pay premium for work that "should" have been done.
Better approach: Disclose the issue, price accordingly. Some buyers seek projects.
Transmission Repairs
Examples: Clutch replacement, gearbox rebuild
Cost: £400-1,500+
Value added: 50-70% of cost at best
Why not: Expensive repairs on older cars rarely return full investment.
Exception: If clutch failure is imminent and car otherwise excellent, might be worth doing.
Major Bodywork
Examples: Panel replacement, accident repair, rust repair
Cost: £500-3,000+
Value added: 30-60% of cost typically
Why not: Body shop prices are high. Buyers see result but don't know what was hidden underneath.
Exception: If damage is putting off all buyers, sometimes necessary to make car sellable at all.
Suspension Overhaul
Examples: Full shock absorber replacement, bushes, springs
Cost: £300-1,000+
Value added: Often less than cost
Why not: Unless car handles dangerously or MOT fails, buyers won't pay premium for new suspension.
Exception: Performance cars where handling is key selling point.
Air Conditioning Regas/Repair
Cost: £50-100 (regas) or £200-500 (repair)
Value added: Minimal in most cases
Why not: Many buyers assume older car A/C won't be perfect. Regas is cheap; if it doesn't hold, repair isn't worth it on most cars.
Exception: Premium/luxury cars where functioning A/C is expected.
Infotainment/Sat Nav Issues
Cost: £100-500+ depending on issue
Value added: Minimal
Why not: Most buyers will use phone navigation anyway. Dated sat nav systems have little value.
Better approach: Note in listing that system has issues and price reflects this.
Worn Interior Trim
Examples: Steering wheel leather, seat bolster wear, trim scratches
Cost: £200-1,000+ for professional refurbishment
Value added: Rarely worth it
Why not: Age-appropriate wear is expected. Buyers factor this in anyway.
Better approach: Clean thoroughly, use leather conditioner, price realistically.
MOT Preparation: What to Fix
If your car is approaching MOT or has advisories, address these to avoid failure:
Must Fix (Fail Items)
Lights: Any non-functioning lights fail
- Cost: £5-50 per bulb
- Always worth doing
Tyres: Below 1.6mm tread or damage fails
- Cost: £60-150 per tyre
- Essential for legal sale anyway
Brakes: Worn pads, binding, poor performance
- Cost: £100-400 depending on work
- Safety issue - must address
Windscreen: Cracks/chips in driver's view fail
- Cost: £50-100 for chip repair, £200-400 for replacement
- Often covered by insurance
Emissions: Excessive emissions fail
- Cost: Variable - could be simple fix or major issue
- Check engine light usually means fail
Advisory Items: Decide Case by Case
Advisories that deter buyers:
- Brake components "wearing" - suggests imminent cost
- Suspension components "worn" - handling concerns
- Tyres "approaching limit" - immediate expense needed
Worth addressing if:
- Fix is cheap and easy
- Transforms car from "needs work" to "ready to go"
- Car is otherwise in good condition
Leave if:
- Fix is expensive
- Car is low value
- You'll price to reflect anyway
The Professional Assessment Option
Cost: £100-200 for pre-sale inspection
What you get:
- Independent assessment of condition
- List of issues to address
- Evidence of transparency for buyers
- Ammunition for pricing
When worthwhile:
- Higher value cars (£10,000+)
- Uncertain about car's condition
- Want to justify premium price
Creating Your Repair Priority List
Step 1: List everything Write down every issue, cosmetic and mechanical.
Step 2: Categorise
- Must fix (safety/legal)
- Quick wins (high return)
- Consider (moderate return)
- Leave (low return)
Step 3: Calculate Add up costs for "must fix" and "quick wins" - this is your minimum investment.
Step 4: Decide on "consider" items Based on total budget and expected sale price.
Example Analysis:
| Item | Cost | Value Added | Return | Decision |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full valet | £100 | £400 | 4x | Do it |
| Wiper blades | £25 | £100 | 4x | Do it |
| Touch-up paint | £15 | £75 | 5x | Do it |
| Headlight restore | £40 | £150 | 3.75x | Do it |
| Two tyres | £200 | £300 | 1.5x | Consider |
| Alloy refurb (2) | £160 | £250 | 1.5x | Consider |
| New clutch | £600 | £400 | 0.67x | Don't do |
| A/C repair | £350 | £100 | 0.29x | Don't do |
Total "must do": £180 for £725 value = 4x return Adding tyres and alloys: £540 for £1,275 value = 2.4x return Clutch and A/C: -£450 (negative return)
The Honest Disclosure Approach
For items you don't fix, honesty is the best policy.
Benefits of disclosure:
- Builds trust with buyers
- Avoids wasted viewings
- Protects against comeback complaints
- Serious buyers appreciate transparency
How to disclose:
- Include in listing description
- Mention advisories from MOT
- Be factual, not apologetic
- Price reflects condition
Example wording: "Full disclosure: MOT advisory notes front tyres approaching wear limit (will pass current MOT). New owner will want to budget for replacement within a few months. Price reflects this."
For more on the complete selling process, see our complete guide to selling your car.
Checklist: Pre-Sale Repair Assessment
Quick wins - do all:
- Professional or thorough DIY clean
- Wiper blade replacement
- Touch-up paint chips
- Replace burnt-out bulbs
- Top up all fluids
- Engine bay clean
- Odour elimination
- Replace worn floor mats
Assess and decide:
- Tyre condition (replace if under 3mm)
- Headlight restoration (if hazed)
- Alloy wheel condition
- Minor dent removal (PDR)
- Brake pad life
- MOT timing
Usually don't do:
- Major mechanical repairs
- Significant bodywork
- Suspension overhaul
- A/C repair (unless premium car)
- Infotainment fixes
Final Thoughts
Smart pre-sale repairs transform your car from "needs work" to "ready to drive away" - a shift that justifies higher pricing and attracts better buyers.
Focus your budget on perception and presentation. Clean thoroughly, fix the obvious, address safety items, and leave the major mechanicals priced into your asking figure.
The goal isn't a perfect car - it's a car that looks cared for and presents no immediate concerns. Achieve that, and you'll sell faster and for more money.
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