How to Determine a Used Car’s Value Yourself

First thing’s first. When it comes to determining the value of a used car – that is to say, the price you can insist upon when selling it – it needs to be noted that there is really no substitute for professional help. A professional used car appraiser can bring to bear a level of expertise that takes years of training to accumulate. And not only that but used car appraisers are typically employed by a used car dealership. Accordingly, they have access to the market data that all well-connected dealerships have, meaning they can provide the most solid and competitive price for your car.

As an example, one such dealership that offers all of this and a great deal more is CarFastCash, a southern Californian used car dealership with outlets in Los Angeles Country, San Diego, San Bernardino and more. With connections to a nationwide network of dealerships, CarFastCash can offer the very best – that is to say, the best price for your used car when sold in the best market and at the best condition they can restore it to.

When to Make a Self-Appraisal

Yet there are indeed some circumstances when the services of a professional appraiser might not be readily available. This is normally the case when you are selling privately or when selling your car online. In such cases, it is very handy to know how to appraise a car yourself. Again, it will not be an optimal price – for that, you needa professional – but it’s very much possible to arrive at a figure you can hold fast to and avoid getting ripped off.

How to Appraise Your Car

So, you’re selling privately, online or in some other non-dealership fashion. You are going to need a starting price for your car. Negotiation may alter this before the final sale is made, but without a good knowledge of what your car is worth, you run the risk of getting ripped off.

Note the Make, Model and Additional Features

The first step is to take note of the car’s make and model. Naturally, this is as simple as looking at your car. However, to arrive a value, you’ll also need to consider other things.This could be the car’s trim package and any optional features such as a 2.0-literturbo engine or a navigation systemas these will bump up the price. The best way to account for all additional features is to fetch your car’s documents and consult those.

Mileage and Condition

There are general rules relating car value to mileage, and so you will need to take a note this. Not every car at the same mileage will be in the same condition, however, so you should note this as well. This can be a little complicated so you should aim to account for all things related to condition. A good tactic is to compose a rating system of “very good” to “very poor” and then assign a rating to as many things as possible. These can include things like the wear on the body, the brakes, the condition of the upholstery, and so on.

Consult Online Value Indexes

Armed with this data, you can then consult certain online services to arrive at a value. Organizations such as Kelly Blue Book (KBB), NADA Guides, and Edmunds can give a value based on your location, vehicle condition, vehicle model, and model year. With this information as well as all the data regarding the carthat you collected before, you should be able to arrive a solid figure.You can then back this up with data during any tough negotiation. Good luck!