Ultimately, there is no substitute for a professional car valuation. If you’re selling a second-hand car, then a professional car appraiser, as is typically employed by reputable dealerships, can look at all sorts of factors to come up with an accurate valuation for your car. It’s not an easy job, and there’s much that goes into it. It is something of a wonder that this is normally a complimentary service!
However, valuing your car yourself is possible, and it can be a particularly useful precursory step to bringing your car to a dealership or buyer. Self-valuation will only return a ballpark figure – and you’re sure to miss many less obvious indicators of a car’s value – but there is a broadly accepted technique that can give you a rough idea of what you have on your hands. Self-valuation can also be especially useful if you are planning on selling your car privately. The reason for this is simply that if you have an idea of how much your car is worth, then you’re unlikely to concede to a price that is significantly lower than what your car should fetch. Valuing a car yourself is certainly recommended if this is a route you wish to take.
Of course, if you plan on using a dealership, then it is not so important. Professional car appraisers know what to look for and, for a reputable dealership with access to a large nationwide market, there is rarely much incentive to undervalue the car. Large dealerships have the resources to restore cars and market access to make sure they get sold at the best price. If you find yourself selling your car in San Diego or South California, then one such dealership that can provide all of that and more is Cash for Cars in San Diego, which offer free professional appraisal and have the market reach to offer the best price.
Nevertheless, it’s only natural to want to get an idea of how much your car is worth before you decide to sell it. Here’s how you can check.
Know the Big Factors Which Influence Value
There are many factors that can affect a car’s value, but some are far more influential than others. Luckily, the factors which most affect a car’s value are the most obvious ones. These are:
Age
Of course, the age of a car will affect its value. Keep in mind that a car typically loses 9%-11% of its value the moment it is purchased and driven off the forecourt. Beyond this, age depreciates value on a curve, starting with bigger drops in value and becoming gentler. It is difficult for a non-professional to exactly calculate a car’s value depreciation on account of age, but you can certainly get a rough idea.
Mileage
Mileage depreciates value at certain figures. These are:
0-30,000
30,000-60,000
60,000-100,000
100,000+
At each of these mileage figures, a car takes a drop in value. It’s wise not to let it get to the 100,000 marks before selling.
General Condition
Obviously, age and mileage determine condition, but they are not the only things that do. It’s worth checking just how much damage your car has sustained and perhaps repairing accordingly.
How Popular is the Model and Color?
Cars in unpopular brands and unusual colors are always more difficult to sell. A simple internet search can tell you the popularity of a brand if you’re not sure. This is perhaps the most obvious factor and certainly one you can determine yourself. It is also something to keep in mind next time you purchase a car.