Most of us appreciate that, unless we drive some rare vintage sportscar, our vehicle will probably depreciate in value over time.

But there are ways of slowing down the aging process, and a few simple changes could save you pounds in the long run.

Here are five top tips to help you keep your wheels on the road a little longer:

1. avoid overdriving

Not only will cutting back on unnecessary trips help with the depreciation, but it's sensible advice regardless. 

If you find that you’re using the car for simple tasks like popping to the local shop five minutes away, then cutting this out could save you money on fuel, help with your fitness, and of course, all those 10 minutes add up over time and take their toll on your vehicle.

Just think – even if it’s only 10 minutes a day, that’s more than an hour a week, which is a big saving over the lifetime of your car.

2. smoking and dogs

Unless you plan on selling your car to a smoker and/or a dog owner, then smoking in your car, and transporting your four-legged friend, are two of the biggest causes of stubborn, hard to shift smells.

The smoking one is pretty obvious: if you smoke in the car, even with the windows open, the smell will cling to the interior and clog the air con. It will need more than a very thorough clean to remove and you’ll probably have to splash out on a specialist after long-term use. And besides the smell, you also need to keep an eye out for any physical damage from burns and ash.

Your pet, meanwhile, is a trickier prospect to stop, but easier to solve. Unlike smoking, taking your pooch out for an adventure is a positive thing for both your health and the dog's health, but just like smoking, dogs leave a smell behind that often lingers, not to mention the hairs which can get EVERYWHERE. As with smoking, it will need a very thorough cleaning, but at least its something you can probably do yourself.

3. your personal taste

There’s no polite way of saying this, but if your idea of a stylish car is painting it hot pink and covering it with Disney fairy stickers, there’s a good chance any potential byer might not share your passion.

If you want someone to part with their hard-earned cash for your car or van, the best advice is keep it simple. That usually means sticking to the original scheme or, if you have to change it, pick a nice neutral option like black, silver or white.

4. bumps and scratches

Does your car show obvious signs of wear and tear? Scratches, bumps, broken wingmirrors or dodgy hubcaps? If so, while it might be an expense to get them sorted, it could be worth it; as the only saying goes, sometimes you have to spend money to make money, and in this case maybe a little elbow grease too.

If you keep up with these tasks as and when they happen that can make things easier and, as with the other points in this list, acting early can stop things from getting out of hand. 

5. keep it maintained

Finally, this might be stating the obvious to many, but it bears repeating – keep the car maintained, and it will reward you in the long term. And keep it maintained properly – sometimes, it pays to visit your local experts, and not just trusting a friend of a friend to “have a look” on the cheap. Do it right for that piece of mind.