The vehicle valuation at the expert in the workshop is only one way to have your vehicle valued. We introduce you to the most important ones.
cars are important components in life of many people, determine their everyday life, are devotedly cared for and sometimes even receive affectionate nicknames. Should the day come that you have to part with your car as your faithful companion and travel partner, and put it up for sale, is caution advised.
Of course you do not want to be ripped off and do not sell your car below value. Therefore, it is always advisable to find out exactly what the vehicle is worth before selling it. To do this a vehicle valuation. This guide shows you, what you have to pay attention to and what options are available for carrying out such an assessment.
Further information on vehicle valuation
Vehicle valuation – what does the value of your vehicle depend on??
After an accident, your car will score drastically worse in the vehicle valuation. Often a repair costs more than a new purchase. The only thing that helps is selling.
The valuation can be done in different ways and determines the sale value of your car. valuation here can mean filling out an online form, looking it up in the famous schwacke list, or going directly to a professional appraiser. But what do the different test centers look for when they determine the vehicle value?? Here you will find a list of some important factors, which are decisive for the vehicle valuation.
Important factors in car valuation
- Manufacturer: brands are more than just sound and smoke – at least in the automotive industry. Some brands are simply more sought-after used cars than others because of their reliable reputation or their general popularity simply more sought-after used cars than others. The increases resale value.
- vehicle type and general data: drive a sports car or a family car? a small car or a luxury sedan? The technical data, i.e. the engine power, the tire size and the equipment can also determine the price in the vehicle valuation. A more powerful car often brings in more money than a weak small car. However, powerful horsepower cars in particular can be inadequate care wear and tear due to the high speeds and accordingly quickly lose value.
- Year and date of first registration: even regardless of the mileage, age is a crucial factor in determining the value of the car, as your car will steadily lose value. This loss in value is greatest in the first year after registration. Here your car loses on average about 24.2% – a quarter of its value.
- mileage: mileage, i.e. the number of kilometers a car has run, provides direct information about how much the car has been used and how long the engine has been running. An average "car life" ends after about 200.000 kilometers. Up to this mark, the value of your car is often reduced to a fraction of its purchase value shrunk.
- General condition: year of manufacture and mileage are important factors, but how much your car will actually wear out in a few years of faithful service, also depends on your driving behavior and maintenance, you give it. Depending on how you have handled your car, the parts may be in better or worse condition.
Value-increasing and value-decreasing factors
When buying a car, you should consider which model to choose, as car values fall at different rates.
in addition, there are factors that can lead to an increase or decrease in value for the valuation of your vehicle. For example, if your car has been in an accident, this has a negative effect on the vehicle valuation, as even components that did not need to be repaired were subject to greater wear and tear.
The same applies to the number of previous owners. The more owners your car has had before you, the less you can estimate how it has been treated and the more the price will drop. On the other hand replacement of individual parts with higher quality ones and by the purchasing optional equipment also a adding value to your car reach.
Also make an effort regular maintenance, pay attention to the condition of your engine oil, bring your car regularly to the inspection to detect problems early and also pay attention to coolant and antifreeze.
What contributes to the increase in value?
Possibilities of vehicle evaluation
The vehicle valuation by an independent expert is comparatively expensive, but it is thorough, fair and takes all factors into account.
There are different ways to calculate the vehicle value to let. All have advantages and disadvantages, some are free but less accurate – others are thorough but costly. Here are five ways you can get the price of your car appraised.
Have your car appraised by an independent appraiser
If you want to get a particularly thorough and honest vehicle appraisal, you can ask for one from an independent valuer have your vehicle appraised. He or she will take a close look at your used car and give you a detailed evaluation a comprehensive appraisal. In this flow all important factors with one, which are necessary for the evaluation of the kzf. In contrast, for example online vehicle valuations a less accurate value as the online platforms assume an average wear and tear of the car and are not able to query more precise defects.
For example, if you hairline cracks in the windshield have or other defects that could jeopardize an MOT test, the valuer will note this, while an online service will give you an too high an estimate – the average value – will be given for your car.
The appraisal you can in many garages, But you can also have it done by a vehicle appraiser’s office or by an inspection agency such as DEKRA or TuV. By doing this independent facility have their car valued, who does not also want to buy it, they receive honest and therefore often fairer appraisals than at the car dealership.
the big minus point with the independent appraiser is the price: an appraisal can be about 150€ costs. Should you decide to use this vehicle appraisal, it is best to compare prices different providers.
An appraisal can be very helpful when selling a vehicle, as it can provide a make an impression strengthening your trust in them. The buyers can accurately read every defect of the used car and do not have to expect any unpleasant surprises. At more expensive cars buyers even demand an expert opinion or warranty to make sure that the investment is worthwhile.
the car dealer: appraisal in the garage
The evaluation by the car dealer saves time and money. For this the estimated value will often be a little lower.
Many car owners sell their car to business dealers, who then also carry out a vehicle appraisal before making a price suggestion. This method has the advantage of being very time-saving and is therefore recommended for sellers who are under time pressure. You can look for a car dealer in your area – the density is enormous in most cities – and do not need to place an ad do not make appointments with interested parties.
The vehicle valuation is also often little time make use of. But this is because car dealers in most cases also pay less than private buyers. you want to resell the car and still make a profit from it, so you have to a profit margin include the price.
Carry out a vehicle valuation online free of charge – conveniently at the click of a mouse
as already mentioned, you can also do an estimate online. On the internet there are different platforms, the questionnaires or cost calculators offer. If you enter the key data of your car, such as brand, model, age and mileage, you will immediately receive a non-binding estimate.
A vehicle appraisal cannot be quicker. The whole process takes only a few minutes and is also completely free of charge. But you also get a reliable value? As a rule, the online portals only ask for a small amount of information about their car. Often brand, model and first registration are enough and you will get a price. This is based on the average depreciation of your model in the corresponding time period. Factors that reduce or increase the value of the vehicle, such as sheet metal damage or special equipment, are not queried.
online dealers offer online check and appraisal in one
Vehicle value calculators are often offered by online portals, who also buy their car directly would like. A quick google search immediately returns the largest providers of this service. In such a case, in addition to the online check, you have the possibility to have your car appraise free of charge to have.
After they have made their enter data and get an estimated value you can use make an appointment with a partner garage of the online service. Then they drive to the garage, have their car half an hour of appraisal and then receive a little later send an offer by email.
Here, just as with the appraisal by the classic car dealer, the the offer is usually lower than for an objective appraisal or a private sale, because the buying service has to earn something from your car.
For this, this method of vehicle valuation very quickly and you can get a vehicle valuation in a professional workshop without much effort valuation that costs you nothing.
Schwacke: car estimation by price list
the agony of choice: there are many ways to evaluate a vehicle. Here they are presented.
A last possibility to get a vehicle valuation is the schwacke list. first published in 1957, the list is today more than 30.000 types of cars and more than 10 million special equipment features is one of the most comprehensive and recognized vehicle lists and is ideally suited for quick and realistic price orientation.
Due to the fact that the list so respected among consumers and professionals it is well suited as a basis for negotiation. If you sell your used car and can justify your price wish on the basis of the schwacke list, then that is a very strong argument.
However, the list not free of charge. For the evaluation of your car you pay 7,90€. And of course, an independent appraisal is much more accurate, but for the first orientation a look at the list is highly recommended.
tips for vehicle valuation
No matter which method you choose, you can be sure that the offer will be different for you with another provider or via another method. Therefore, take your time for the vehicle valuation and for the subsequent vehicle sale and compare different dealers and portals.
Keep an eye on the MOT sticker as well, as this is often the reason for a sale, especially with old cars.
Such a case is besides an accident a frequent reason for the decision to sell. Often sellers are dependent on their car and need a new one quickly. For the sale of the old car they leave themselves then too little time and sell it perhaps under value.
Therefore, always keep the date of the main inspection (HU) in view and take care of a vehicle valuation in good time.
FAQ: vehicle valuation
Information on the most important criteria can be found here.
Since a car valuation via the internet does not usually take into account possible defects on the vehicle or existing special equipment, these only allow for a rough orientation.
Actually, all vehicles are affected by depreciation as soon as they are on the road. New cars in particular lose a considerable amount of value in the first year. But also a high mileage and rust can reduce a possible purchase price.