Drivers warned 'find garage' over dashboard light which could cost them £1,200

Drivers have been warned selling a car with this warning light could slash the value by more than £500. Damaged paintwork, a patchy service history and high mileage are all things that can affect the value of your car.

And a dealer will typically reduce the amount they offer you if the vehicle has warning lights on the dashboard. Owen Gregory, a professional vehicle appraiser at used car retailer Big Motoring World explains: "When bringing your motor to us for part exchange, we want to know how well the car has been looked after because it directly affects how easy it will be for us to sell it.

"If you’re bringing us a car with a warning light on, it’s a bit of a giveaway of the overall condition of the car. It tells us there could be a problem with it, and that might hinder our ability to sell it quickly. Don’t panic if you see a warning light though, as they don’t necessarily indicate a major problem.

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"These are more common than you might think and can just require a simple fix for a minor issue that is relatively cheap to do. Taking care of the issue before you try to trade in your motor can make your car more attractive so it’s definitely worth looking into."

He warned an e ngine management warning light will result in a typical reduced trade-in price of £500. An ABS warning list will result in the same drop-off for motorists, he added, and a service light will cost drivers £200 each.

He went on: "When dealers, or anyone for that matter, are looking to buy a car, it’s important they can see a car has been looked after with regular maintenance, so it’s best to book a service if the light comes on if you’re thinking about selling."