Cigarette smoking is banned in most places of the US, we all know about it, right? And now, English smokers will also join Scotland and Wales on the No Smoking in Public advocacy. But before thinking about the environmental and health risks of smoking in public, cigarette smoking in a vehicle also affects the value of the car when it is sent out on sale.
The British Car Auctions (BCA), a leading auction company known to be the best seller of used cars and cars in auction, had warned most of the motorists that buyers are turned off by cigarette smell on cars. It literally devalues the car when it finally is put on sale.
The BCA’s PR Manager, Tim Naylor, said, “We have conducted research amongst a representative sample of top professional motor trade buyers on the main factors that influenced the price of used cars. While specification remains the strongest price indicator, presentation is the next most important factor.”
“Presentation is not just about how it looks, but how it smells! It’s another good reason for smokers to avoid lighting up in their car. This will avoid the lingering smell of cigarettes hanging in the interior as well as eliminate the risk of discolouring and leaving scorch marks in the ashtray or on upholstery. All of these things will put buyers off, even if they smoke themselves,” he also discloses.
Car buyers will always look for car with a clean and nicotine free interior. I mean if your head linings are stained with nicotine, car buyers might not choose the car you are trying to sell. Car buyers favor cars with an interior that looks like new and interiors that are in good condition. Of course, who would choose a car with Husky liners but yet is filled with nicotine stain? Or maybe a vehicle with Husky BMW floor mats as well as Weathertech mats that smells like an ash tray?
He also added, “With the smoking ban already in place in Wales and Scotland and soon to come into force in England, there are now thousands of ex-fleet vehicles in the marketplace that have never been smoked in. It means any car that has been heavily smoked is potentially at a disadvantage when it comes to be sold.”
Millions of cars are handled by the BCA every year, and from the large number, some cars are from fleets as well as leasing companies. Most of the owners are banning smoking inside the car. The rule was performed over the recent months.
Naylor continues, “Professional business sellers realised that they were losing money on vehicles they were selling that had been smoked in. At the end of the day, motorists buying a used car don’t want to be reminded of the previous owner every time they get behind the steering wheel. With smoking banned in enclosed spaces across Scotland and Wales, smokers would do well to maintain the ban in their car too. Keeping the car clean and fresh can help sellers boost the final sale price of their vehicle dramatically.”