Did you know that car accessories, if selected properly and professionally installed can increase your car's value? Depending on what type of accessories you are looking into, you may be able to get some return on your investment, and be able to enjoy the new look and feel while you are driving it.

Some accessories tend to be more mainstreamed than others. Take dash trim for instance. Dash trim can be found in nice luxury cars like Toyota, BMW and Lexus. The same materials and technology used to create the OEM dash trim kits are available as aftermarket upgrades, and are available for just about ANY make and model. Dash trim kits are usually less than $200 and can really add style and class to an interior. It may not actually increase the value of the car that much, but it will definitely help you sell the vehicle.

Other accessories such as nice sound systems, floor mats, b-pillars trim or headlight eyelids are also inexpensive add-ons, and can have a lot of effect on the vehicle's appearance and style. These add-ons are on the top of the list when people are looking to purchase a new or used car. What affects which car is purchased is usually the options it has. Car shoppers are looking for things that enhance the driving experience like cruise control, power windows, keyless entry, remote starters, alarms, and appearance enhancers. Most of these can be added as aftermarket accessories, and will increase your chances of reselling the car at a later date.

Some accessories are not mainstream, and can actually lower the value of your car. A great example of this is an aggressively styled body kit or aero kit. With a kit like this installed on a car, it severely limits the target audience for selling the car. It may be possible to get more for it from someone who likes the aggressive style, but these cars tend to take longer to sell and almost always fail to recoup the cost. Some aero kits are desirable, such as a ground effects kit that enhances the cars existing lines. These types of kits can increase the overall value if installed correctly, but be very selective if the intention is to recoup the cost of the additions when you sell the car.

Especially in today's markets, it is important to consider the effects of every dollar spent. Less and less people are able to afford new cars due to the ongoing credit crisis. Even if a new car is not an option, it's possible to liven up an existing car with some carefully chosen accessories. If chosen wisely, the new accessories can not only increase your overall satisfaction, but also help to recoup the cost whenever you can afford to upgrade. Most accessories come with instructions and can be installed in a couple of hours even by a novice car enthusiast. If installed personally, the cost of labor and installation are also reduced.

Also be very careful with expensive accessories such as wheels and tires or really elaborate sound systems. These accessories have the lowest return on their investment. Car owners tend to be more selective with wheels and tires, and preferences vary across the board when considering size, styles, color, width, and what type of tires accompany them. The same is true for aftermarket stereos. Some think that bigger is better, but if you want to get the most our of it upon resale, then go for overall sound quality, not how loud it is. A well tuned car stereo can also attract a lot of potential buyers. Just listen to the commercials on television about eight or ten speaker systems. Car manufacturers know how important good sound is to a potential buyer, and the same remains true for purchasing a previously owned vehicle.

When talking about ROI and previously owned vehicles, it would be an injustice not to emphasize maintenance history. If you are going to make small investments in your car in the form of additions and accessories, don't overlook the routine maintenance. You may attract a lot of buyers with the great options and styling, but eventually, everyone wants to see the maintenance history. An incomplete maintenance history can be a deal-breaker for even the nicest looking and best sounding cars. Be smart and take care of your car while you are enjoying it, and you will be able to sell it for more when the time comes.