Considering car accessories

Don’t get too carried away with extra equipment as some will have little long-term value and you will be unlikely to recoup the money on resale.

New car dealers usually offer a vast range of options and accessories for the cars they sell. Some will be genuine factory accessories, made and guaranteed by the vehicle’s manufacturer, while others will be of a more generic nature.

Extras like air conditioning, power steering, ABS and airbags offer definite safety and comfort benefits and add to a car's value.  From a practicality point of view, consider if the vehicle is supplied with a spare wheel and if so what sort.

It's becoming increasingly common for vehicle manufacturers to provide inflator kits rather than any type of spare wheel.  Also space saver and temporary use spare wheels are often provided in place of a full sized spare wheel. See our fact sheet on temporary use spare wheels for further information.

Extras like fabric protection, window tinting and sound deadening will add little, if any value. Be wary of such extras as they are often heavily marked up in price, so it pays to shop around for the most competitive pricing.

Non-genuine car accessories may be cheaper than genuine manufacturer’s accessories, however they will not be covered under the manufacturer's new car warranty. If a non-genuine accessory causes damage to your new car, the manufacturer’s warranty will not cover the damage.