Some drivers allow themselves and their passengers to smoke inside their cars. Others, even though they're smokers themselves, are fiercely against it. Your car, your rules, I think it’s fair to say that. Smoking, not smoking, food and drinks, what songs to play on the radio – you call the shots. But you should know one thing: if you allow smoking inside of your car, you're dropping the car's resale value.
What the Smoke Does to Your Car
First of all, let's make sure we understand what happens with smoke from a cigarette, cigar, or any other tobacco product. When you light up and take a puff, you release smoke particles into the air. These particles linger around for at least a couple of hours. During this time, smoke particles get absorbed into almost every part of your car. This includes your car seats, the lining of the roof, the door panels and even your carpet.
In extreme cases, cigarette smoke may cause stains and discolouration in those surfaces. Smoke components may find their way into the air ducts where they'll sit for even longer. Worst of all, all of those particles will get pushed back into the cabin when you switch on the AC!
All that I’ve described are true on the premise that you're smoking with the windows rolled down. If the windows are up and there's little ventilation (if at all), those effects get intensified many times over. Make no mistake: smoke finds its way into and onto every car part.
Some Buyers Won't Go Anywhere Near It
So your car smells of leftover cigar, what about it? Most car owners who smoke don’t consider it a problem that their car reeks of nicotine. A little bit of ventilation and a few squirts of your air freshener might make it alright for you.
The problem with this is that not everybody feels the same way. The smell of nicotine will immediately turn off potential buyers. It is especially true if the car you're selling is marketed under family-oriented segments. Parents will not want to have their kids exposed to even the littlest amount of second- or third-hand cigarette smoke. Elders and health-conscious individuals feel the same. If your vehicle's been smoked in, that's an immediate 'No' to these buyers.
Some might even ask you outright whether or not you've smoked inside of it. Never ever be tempted to lie to your buyers about having smoked in your car! They'll notice it sooner or later, given how smoke tends to stick around.
It’s obvious that smoking causes a problem for a would-be seller like yourself. As fewer buyers are willing to even consider your car, you'll have to lower your selling price far enough to attract others. It diminishes your ability to get a payment that reflects the true value of the car.
If They Buy It, They Need to Pay Someone to Clean It
Even if you do find a buyer who's willing to overlook the smell, stains and discolouration, convincing them to buy the car will not be easy. A lower selling price might help, but buyers know that this car will give them an added headache: they'll still need to get the car cleaned.
Thoroughly cleaning out smoke and stains from all the affected car parts is a tedious task. It involves cleaning or replacing filters in the ventilation system, washing every surface with specialised products, and cleaning the upholstery.
If buyers choose to do it themselves, they'd have to spend hours and considerable elbow grease. If they decide to get it done by a professional, they'd have to fork out extra cash to get the job done right.
To overcome these hurdles and successfully sell your car, you'd have to give buyers a pretty hefty discount to make it all worth for them!
Even Dealers Might Not Want to Take It
It's easy to think that you can dispose of your car through a dealer. The truth might be equally frustrating. Dealers themselves may not want to take the vehicle from you, either.
Dealers know what car buyers are looking for. They most definitely know how buyers tend to avoid vehicles that have been smoked in. Just like the would-be buyers mentioned above, a dealer would also have to put in a lot of time and resources to remove all traces of smoke from your car.
A car dealer would no doubt be more concerned about the dollars and cents than a private buyer would be. Sadly, to put it in simple words, a car that's been smoked in may not be worth much of their time.
How Do You Avoid All of This?
If you know that there's a possibility you'd want to sell your car at some point, it's time to change your ways. This article isn't going to tell you to stop smoking, because quite frankly, that's a personal choice.
But for the love of your car and to reduce further loss in its value, stop smoking inside of it. Don't think that rolling down the windows while you puff nicotine will make a difference, either. Instead, you need to lay down the law in your car. Don't let anyone smoke in your car, not even yourself. Any smoking should only be done outside of the vehicle with its doors and windows closed, so none of the smoke gets in.
Then, you should invest in getting your car cleaned thoroughly to remove any existing evidence of smoke. That'll allow you and your passengers to enjoy a much more comfortable ride. Plus, when the time comes for you to sell the car, you'll be able to sell it in the best possible price and terms.
Stay tuned with us for useful tips and buying and selling guides. Oh, and if you’re selling a car or some car parts, you may advertise with us at Carpart.com.au. We have the easiest platform to use and with the widest reach, too!
By Ray Hasbollah