Buying a smoker's car: what it means for value and how to get rid of the smell

According to a 2023 study, just under 12% of people in the UK smoke cigarettes. While that’s the lowest number since records began and still steadily declining, it’s a hefty number of people. Chances are, some of them smoke while they drive their car and that makes for a lot of cars up and down the country that have been smoked in.  

Are cars that have been smoked-in worth less? 

While the smokers themselves might not mind the smell and risk of burning holes in their seats, Cap HPI, car valuation experts, has revealed it could cost them as much as £2,000 in lost value when they want to trade their car in. Car dealers will often automatically lower their offer when they discover a car has been smoked in, or even refuse to buy the car entirely.

A smoked-in car will appeal to a smaller audience of buyers, as non-smokers in particular are far less likely to want to spend thousands on a car that smells like stale cigarette smoke. A study from Auto Express’ sister site Carbuyer found that 87 per cent of drivers would refuse to buy a car that had been smoked in. Even those who are still keen on buying the car may well use evidence that it’s been smoked in as a means to negotiate the price down. 

How can you remove the smell of smoke from a car?

In order to remove evidence of smoking in a car, dealers will have to invest time and money into it - specialist products, deep cleans, air conditioning cleansing, and more, which can cost hundreds of pounds to do properly. When the aim of the game is to move metal for a profit, time spent with the car off the forecourt is time wasted and money off the bottom line. 

While myriad specialist products are available to those wanting to cleanse a car of a smoky smell, car detailing expert Adam Eaton claims they aren’t as effective as promised. Some may get rid of the stink in the short term, it can return. 

He recommends wet vacuuming, antibacterial cleaners, and steam cleaning to shift the fug the old fashioned way. When it comes to highly absorbent fabrics like headliners and carpets it’s often easier to replace them entirely than spend time cleaning them. 

Does vaping in a car affect the value? 

Fewer and fewer people smoke today, so the risk of finding a smoked-in car is lower, but what about vaping? With vape pens on the rise, what does a tank of candy floss berry blast do to the inside of a car? Detailing forum detailingworld.co.uk has a few threads on the topic, with users revealing that vape smoke can leave a film on interior glass that can affect visibility. Users recommend a specialist glass cleaning product and a clean every three months. 

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