Auto Trader valuation

Fair

• Bodywork needs minor repair, with some significant chips and scratches

• Minor or cosmetic damage to wheels

• Minor or cosmetic damage to lights, glass and mirrors

• Interior has wear and tear, with some damage or staining

• Some interior equipment does not work

• Tyres are safe and legal, but tread depth may be close to legal limit

• Documentation and keys present

• Large gaps in service history

• Current MOT

• No outstanding finance

• The car has never been written off

Good

• Minor or cosmetic damage to bodywork, wheels, tyres and interior

• Minor or cosmetic damage to lights, glass and mirrors

• All tyres are safe and legal

• Documentation and keys present

• Partial, documented service history

• Current MOT

• No outstanding finance

• It is not a write-off (category C, D, S or N vehicle)

Excellent

• No damage to bodywork, wheels, tyres and interior

• No damage to lights, glass and mirrors

• All tyres are safe and legal

• Documentation and keys present

• Full, documented service history

• Current MOT with at least six months to run

• No outstanding finance

• It is not a write-off (category C, D, S or N vehicle)

The guide prices we provide give you a good idea what the car might be worth, depending on how you're buying or selling it. However, many factors can influence the price, including:

Overall condition

• Cars of similar ages can have vastly different levels of wear and damage.

Number of owners

• Typically, cars with more previous owners are worth less, especially if they lack documentation too.

Optional extras

• Features like sat navs, leather seats and panoramic sunroofs can bump up the value.

Colour

• Certain colours can be more desirable, depending on current trends and fashions.

Service history

• Cars are worth more with a fully-documented service history.

MOT

• Buyers often pay more for a long MOT.

Modifications

• Additions like body kits, spoilers and so on can increase or decrease the value.

Rarity of model

• Some cars are desirable because there aren't so many of them around.

Extras included in the deal

• Such as extended warranties

Things that can make the value go up

Extra features

Any optional extras that make a car stand out, for example a rear-facing camera to help with parking or an in-built sat nav and multimedia system.

Desirable colour

Some colours are more popular than others, so a car in a sought-after colour can be worth more.

No damage

Our car values are based on the car being in a good condition – so it could have some minor wear and tear like small stains or scratches. If a car has no damage at all and is in an excellent condition it’s likely be worth more than our guide price.

Full service history

A car with a complete record of all services can be worth more than one that has some gaps in the service history.

Things that can make the value go down

Significant wear and tear

Our car values assume the car has some minor damage, like a small stain on the back seat or scratch on the bumper. If the damage is any more significant than this it’s likely to reduce the value of the car.

Parts not working

If anything needs fixing, for example a seat warmer or electric window doesn’t work, it will have a negative impact on the car’s value.

Gaps in the service history or no current MOT

Our valuations assume a car is in good working order. If there isn’t a current MOT or significant gaps in the records of services, it can reduce the value of a car.

Lots of previous owners

Usually, the fewer owners the more a car is worth. So if a car has been sold many times before it can reduce the value.

Every day we combine and analyse data from a number of sources, including:

• Over 500,000 ads on Auto Trader and dealer websites

• Price data from major car auctions

• Information on fleet and leasing disposal prices

Our valuations play back what's in the market, and because the used-car market changes quickly, we update our valuations every day.

Your part-exchange valuation will be slightly less than what you would get if you sold your car privately or if you were buying the same vehicle. This is because the dealer will be buying your car from you to resell it, meaning they’ll incur costs for stocking and preparation.

They will take these costs into account when offering you a price. Bear in mind that you may get a better deal on the car you’re buying if you part-exchange with a dealer. Our valuations play back what’s in the market, and because the used-car market changes quickly, we update our valuations every day.