Dealer and retail values
Dealer forecourt and trade retail figures, where available, give context when reviewing a dealer advert. Compare what the seller includes and the condition of the particular car.
Vehicle ValuationKnow what the price means
Find a useful starting point for what a used car may be worth. Check available UK car value estimates by registration, compare the right type of price and keep a PDF report before you buy, sell or part-exchange.
An asking price, a private-sale estimate and a dealer offer can be different. Understand the figures in context, then weigh up the car's mileage, condition and supporting paperwork before agreeing a price.
What does a vehicle valuation include?
Available price estimates for different selling routes, with context to help you compare like for like.
How much is my car worth?
The answer depends partly on how you plan to sell it. A private buyer, a dealer taking a part-exchange and a retailer advertising a prepared car are considering different transactions. Start with the valuation category that matches yours.
CarExamer Vehicle Valuation costs £1.99 for one vehicle. It presents the available valuation figures in a dedicated PDF, which you can keep alongside adverts or offers. The categories and supporting details supplied vary by vehicle.
If you are buying, use the relevant estimate to question an asking price and decide which comparable cars to research. If you are selling, use it to set a starting expectation and compare real offers, rather than assuming the highest figure is what you will receive.
Check the basis of the estimate. Compare the vehicle description, mileage and valuation date where shown. If the mileage is different from the current odometer reading, or the basis is unclear, contact us before relying on the price.
A valuation does not inspect the car or confirm a clear history. Service records, repairs, wear and what the seller includes still need your attention. Use the report as one part of your decision.
Read each figure in context
What to look for in the report
Private-sale values
Private clean and private average figures can help you assess a private asking price. These labels describe valuation categories; they do not certify the condition of the car.
Part-exchange value
Use an available part-exchange estimate as a reference for a dealer offer. Compare the overall cost to change cars, including the purchase price and any separately agreed extras.
Auction and trade values
Auction, trade average and trade poor figures may be supplied. Keep these separate from retail asking prices: they represent different selling routes and condition assumptions.
Vehicle and mileage context
Review the vehicle description, plate year and mileage where shown. If the mileage differs from the odometer, do not assume the valuation reflects the car's current mileage.
Valuation date and price context
Check the valuation date where supplied. An original on-the-road price may also appear for context; it is not the car's current resale value. Available fields vary by vehicle.
How to value a car by registration
Confirm the vehicle, understand the estimate and compare it with the car you are buying or selling.
Check
1. Confirm the car
Enter the UK registration on the history-check page and check the returned vehicle. Select Vehicle Valuation, review the price and add the package to your cart.
Compare
2. Match the price category
Read the completed report and check the mileage and date where available. Use the appropriate retail, private-sale or part-exchange figure for the transaction you are considering.
Decide
3. Agree a price with evidence
Compare similar cars and genuine offers, then consider the condition, service records and any work needed. Use specific findings to discuss the price and keep a record of what is agreed.
MoneyHelper's car-buying guidance recommends researching prices before negotiating. Asking prices are useful comparisons, but do not show what each car ultimately sells for.
Valuation, history or inspection?
Choose the information that answers your question. Each report has a different purpose.
Vehicle Valuation
£1.99 per vehicleHow does the price compare?
Review available price estimates for different selling routes. Check the assumptions and compare them with the actual car and offers.
Start your valuationCar Basic Check
Do the advertised vehicle details match?
Compare recorded identity, core specification and available registration details. This is a separate vehicle-details report, rather than a price estimate.
Explore the basic checkFull car history check
Are background risks recorded?
Investigate recorded finance, theft, insurance write-off and mileage concerns. A valuation alone does not answer these questions.
Explore the full history checkIndependent vehicle inspection
What condition is the car in now?
Assess the physical car with an inspection appropriate to your needs. Its scope and access determine what can be checked; a guide price cannot diagnose faults.
Explore vehicle inspectionsFor a starting point on the vehicle itself, use the free car data check and free MOT history check. Neither includes this paid valuation package.
What affects a used car's value?
Compare the same version, similar age and mileage, then look at the details a price estimate cannot settle.
Mileage, specification and condition
A different engine, gearbox or trim can make an advert a poor comparison. Check the actual mileage, equipment and wear. A condition label such as private clean is not evidence that someone has inspected the car. Ask for repair quotes when work is needed.
Service records and recorded history
Review the service book, invoices and any repair evidence. Unresolved history concerns need investigation before you decide what to pay. An attractive asking price does not explain a write-off, authenticate the vehicle or demonstrate that overdue maintenance has been completed.
The selling route and total deal
For part-exchange, compare the cost to change, not just the allowance. In an illustrative example, an £8,000 car with a £3,000 allowance leaves £5,000 to pay. A £7,600 car with a £2,800 allowance leaves £4,800. The lower allowance can still mean the lower total, before any extras or other costs.
The date and comparable offers
Use recent examples and note differences in mileage, condition and what is included. A car advertised above its guide value needs a reason you can assess; one below it still needs the normal checks. If the valuation basis is missing or unclear, ask for clarification rather than treating an estimate as a confirmed price.
Before buying, follow GOV.UK's used-vehicle checklist: check the registration and MOT details, then compare the car's identification numbers with the V5C log book at the viewing.
Your questions answered
Report cost, mileage, price categories and how to use the estimates.
A useful estimate depends on the vehicle, its mileage and condition, the date and how it will be sold. Compare the appropriate valuation category with similar cars and actual offers. A dealer retail price, a private-sale estimate and a part-exchange offer answer different questions, so there is no single figure that is right for every sale.
CarExamer Vehicle Valuation costs £1.99 for one vehicle. Start on the car history check page, confirm the registration and select Vehicle Valuation. Additional packages are optional and priced separately. You can see the total before adding your selection to the cart.
Yes. Begin with the UK registration and confirm that the returned vehicle is the car you want to value. Choose the Vehicle Valuation package. In the completed report, check the description, mileage and valuation date where shown before comparing the figures with an advert or offer.
Available figures can include dealer forecourt, trade retail, private clean, private average, part-exchange, auction, trade average and trade poor values. Original on-the-road price and supporting vehicle details may also appear. Coverage differs by vehicle; not every category or supporting detail is available for every registration.
Check the mileage shown with the valuation, where available, against the current odometer reading. Do not assume the figures use the car's present mileage or reflect a mileage you have in mind. If the mileage or date is missing, unclear or different, contact CarExamer before relying on the estimate for a buying or selling decision.
A part-exchange offer is what a dealer is prepared to allow for your car within a purchase. A private-sale estimate concerns a sale directly to another buyer. Dealers assess condition, preparation costs and their own buying requirements. Compare like-for-like offers and the total amount you would pay to change cars, rather than the allowance alone.
This is a paid Vehicle Valuation report, priced at £1.99 per vehicle. CarExamer's free vehicle-data and MOT checks answer different questions and do not include this valuation package. Free valuation tools are also available elsewhere; compare the price categories, assumptions and report format before choosing.
No. The figures are estimates for reference, not an offer from CarExamer or a promise that a buyer will pay that amount. Actual offers can differ after a viewing, inspection or review of the service and repair history. A valuation also does not guarantee an insurance settlement or a future resale price.
No. Recorded finance, theft, insurance write-off and mileage-discrepancy checks belong to the separate Full car history check package. A price estimate does not confirm a clear history or roadworthiness. Use a history report and an appropriate physical inspection to investigate those questions before buying.
Once your order is completed and the reports are prepared, you can download the report archive, with Vehicle Valuation supplied as its own PDF. Keep it with the advert or offers you are comparing. It is a snapshot, with no guaranteed validity period: prices, mileage and condition can change. If your decision is delayed, reassess the figures and obtain an updated valuation when needed.
Put the asking price in context
Vehicle Valuation costs £1.99 per vehicle. Start with the registration.
Start your valuation