By Steve Thompson, Contributing writer

Most people do not buy cars as investments, and for good reason. However, you can keep your car valuable by taking care of it, thinking of its resale value with every decision you make.

Depreciation often is the greatest expense incurred by drivers during the first five years of vehicle ownership, according to Kelley Blue Book. An average vehicle will only retain about 35 percent of its original value after a five-year ownership period, meaning that a $50,000 new car today will only be worth somewhere close to $17,500 after five years.

Cars begin to depreciate as soon as you drive away from the dealership, so try to maintain reasonable expectations.

You won't be able to keep your car as valuable as it was when you bought it, but the following tips will increase the money you receive from sale or trade-in ...

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