Bearing in mind that a car is normally your second biggest purchase next to your house, it is wise to take good care of it. Indeed, it is best to take the view that the car is an investment which you must take care of. Granted, you are very unlikely to sell an ordinary car for more than you bought it, no matter how well you look after it, but if you compare the difference in value between two cars of the same age that are in different condition, you will see that this difference can sometimes run to thousands of pounds.
The only time most people consider having their car valeted is when they are about to sell it. This is not a bad idea and it is true to say that many car dealers buy cars in poor condition have them valeted and sell them on at a good profit, so it can certainly increase the amount of money you will get for your vehicle. However, the old adage of prevention is better than cure is one that is very true in this respect. Having your vehicle regularly valeted during the period you own and use it will mean it is in much better condition than it would otherwise be even with a pre-sale valet. The reason for this is that instead of trying to fix problems before selling it on, you will be maintaining your car, such that those problems never develop. Your cars paint-work provides a good example here.
Paint is not just put on a car to make it look nice, but to protect the bodywork so that it doesn't get damage and rust. Even a small chip and scratch can lead to rusting bodywork if not dealt with quickly. Having your car regularly valeted prevents this problem in three ways. Firstly, regular valeting helps protect paint sealants and the integrity of your paintwork in general meaning it is less likely to show signs of age. Secondly, any damage that does occur will be noticed at a regular valet and dealt with quickly, as opposed to being left for a period of time to get much worse. Finally, having a regular professional valet protects you from the damage that can be caused by taking your car through an automated car wash.
When damage from an automated car wash is mentioned you may be thinking of disasters that involve the machine breaking off your windscreen wiper and scraping it along your paintwork, which may not happen every day. However, there is damage that is caused by automated car washes every time you use them. If you have ever stopped to examine the brushes used in automated car washes you will know that they are more like brooms than a Chenille Wash Mitt you would wash your car with if you were doing it by hand. These harsh brushes not only remove protective waxes and sealants from your paintwork, but also cause minor scratches and swirl marks (from the circular brushes) that make your car look terrible. The problem gets worse the more often you use an automated car wash, but unfortunately, because the wash removes your protective coatings meaning dirt sticks to the paintwork much more easily, you will be returning more often and doing more damage. Having your car valeted protects the wax or sealant and means you have to wash your car less often.
What with road tax, petrol prices and car insurance quotes, motoring can be an expensive business. Although it may seem like an unnecessary expense, having your car valeted means protecting your investment so when you come to sell it you'll probably get your money back and more. In addition, it makes your car more pleasant to be in and something you can take real pride in.