How much is my car worth?
How much is my car worth ? Is a question I hear often.
The thing is… when you go to sell your car; it’s common to run into a bit of a challenge when trying to figure this out.
All to often you may end up selling a vehicle that is worth far less than you imagined. And when the dealership hits you with the meagre number (far off what you expected), it can be a real rock to your confidence.
However the concerns that we are about to dig into when considering How much is my car worth – may play an important to role in realising the price of your vehicle accurately.
First up… what should you be looking, at when you think your car might be undervalued?
Car Dating Records
One thing that many people don’t think would matter, when asking How much is my car worth? – but almost certainly does, is how many “marriages” your car has had. By this, I mean how many owners; how many dates has the car been on with other people? Dealers rate this information highly as it gives the car a reputation of being reliable or one that you get rid of quickly.
Whilst a small grouping of owners over a significant period of time will not really hurt you too much, you do need to consider how a range of owners over a period of one or two years will look. It makes the vehicle look as if it has no real or genuine value, and can quickly be seen as a bit of a busted flush. However, it also comes down to the dealerships own personal successes with a vehicle; are they dealing with good sales on your kind of vehicle? Then they might look at your ownership rate a bit more positively.
Asking the question How much is my car worth? – is something that you do need to think about, as the company will be running with industry data to try and ascertain the fairest price, and if they are using Glass or CAP they will be getting plenty of information about the car, including an average price that is on the market. Things like the ownership record, though, could just rock the boat enough to see your price offered take a significant kicking. This is something to consider quite carefully as a car that is not producing a very positive ownership record could lose out to a car that is almost identical, but has had less owners.
Is The Heart Ruling The Head?
How much is my car worth?
When thinking about How much is my car worth? a major problem for those who are trying to sell cars is looking at the vehicle with their heart rather than the head. We’ve covered this further down below but it really is the biggest barrier to your success. You need to take off those glasses that are blocking your view and look at things like the body and the paintwork. Getting to grips with all those dull parts, scratches, bangs and bumps that never seemed to really matter until now is so important to getting the true value of a vehicle.
Take a forensic look at everything from the paint to the wheels and even the windows. Don’t forget about the interior, either – this has to be forensically investigated to make sure that you can get a vehicle that is easy to use and attractive to potential buyers. Is the car being serviced on time every year or are you delaying things? Because that will hurt you, too.
When considering How much is my car worth?, if you’ve paid a lot of money for spoilers and extras you will probably dent the final price, too. Most people aren’t keen on this kind of stuff and won’t be shy about letting you know. Take the time to be objective about the state of your car and you might get a whole lot more luck with ending up with a price that is actually reflective of its class.
Start by visiting places like WeBuyAnyCar.com, as they offer a very good range of starting points to do some research and to get a better idea of what your car is worth. The one thing we can say, though, is don’t be misled by looking at classified ads – they don’t tell the whole truth and will give you a rather poor perception of what you could be worth. Just because Joe from Brixton is selling his Fiesta for that much does not mean that you can, too!
Cars are like people. They have so many complex differences that when judging one against the other it is absolute folly. Lose the emotion and stop looking for logic to make sense to you – instead, find the actual facts behind the situation and you are more likely to lose the tinted glasses and start making smart, calculated and intelligent decisions about your vehicles overall price.
Understanding Dealership Valuations
When considering How much is my car worth? Another big part in establishing vehicle value and a fair price is the dealership valuation in general.
If you are using the average value based on what dealers are selling the car for then you will be in for a bit of a shock as this does not take into account the wide reaching ways they will find to reduce the fee that they are paying out to you.
Dealers will look at the model, specifications and the year of your vehicle before going any further. Your vehicle could have things like a manual gearbox, or come in a really undesirable colour that would need to be changed. You could, though, be sitting with the King of the car that you own with the best specifications and a classy, well-received colour. This all comes into play when looking at the price you’ll get.
One fancy spoiler to many
How much is my car worth?
Another big problem when considering How much is my car worth?, is when you jazz up your car too much. Fancy rims, spoilers and tinted windows might make you feel like you are in a racing movie, but the next buyer might not be so eager to drive around like this and that will impact on the value.
Whilst you will get away with having an older vehicle that has a bit more mileage on the clock compared to others, you won’t be able to get away with having an old car that is the vehicle equivalent of an OAP. If a model upgrade has happened to your vehicle since you bought it you can expect the price to have hit the floor with your model. Factor in things like warranty periods being expired and the value you expect and the value you get could be two totally different things.
Damage and decay
Another big issue when considering How much is my car worth?, is the condition of the car. If any kind of damage or decay can be seen, you will be charged for it in the final price. Leaks, tyre wear and tear, service history, MOT history and various other little things all come into the mind of the mechanic when looking at your vehicles service history. Everything that they need to fork out fixing up this stuff is going to come out of your final price.
Mileage
The last thing to think about when considering How much is my car worth? is the mileage on the clock.
If you’ve spent plenty of time going from Southampton to Inverness then your overall pricing is going to be a whole lot worse than it could have been. A car with low mileage despite its age can balance out, but if you like to go everywhere in the car you might find that it will hurt you when the time comes to sell.
I’m I being scammed?
How much is my car worth?
If you turn up to sell or exchange your car expecting a right few quid and you get offered buttons in exchange, no doubt you’ll be more than a little frustrated.
The question How much is my car worth?… may blurt out your mouth in alarm!
You may feel like the mechanic is out to get you. After loving your car and taking care of it soundly you might soon find that the mechanic who wants to buy it is not quite as impressed with your diligence. You’ve now been told that – after all that work and care – it’s worth less than half of what you were expecting. “Surly these guy are trying it!”
A rather broad a question…
When you ask How much is my car worth?, you are asking a rather broad question. Whilst you’ll find morally dubious individuals who buy cars for a song and leave you out of pocket and with no other option, you will find that most of the markdowns are actually a bit fairer than they might appear. Keep in mind that you are going to a motor professional who knows that you want to sell; you have less knowledge, and you have no advantage as you initiated the process. This leaves you in a bit of a challenge, do you listen to their words and get a bad fee, or do you say no and risk being dropped?
The chances are, though, that the lowballing will start to incrementally rise until you get to a figure a bit more like what you were hoping for. Never ever accept the first offer provided; because it might be the lowest offer they could have provided you with!
By taking a running guess at your cars value and doing no research, or just going with arbitrary numbers based on what you paid for X and Y, you will get nowhere. However, if you are look at car ads you will be a bit more accurate, but not quite there yet. The best way to actually understand the price of your vehicle is quite simple; you need to remove the emotional aspect.
When considering How much is my car worth?, think of it as if you were a buyer, not the one who has had so many good memories and fun times in the car. Take out the emotional side of things and you will find that it could be much easier to negotiate a price that make sense.
A mechanic will always presume you don’t have a clue about this kind of thing so you need to be prepared to get on the web and get reading. Look into the reasons why you might be getting a poor value return and then work out why they might be trying to use industry data to try and tie you up in knots. Take the time needed to learn before you try and sell and get burned.
My car’s name is Daisy
How much is my car worth?
Your car may be called Daisy, and it may have got you to the moon and back, but the bottom-line is that the salesman does not care. They see an arbitrary figure and a chance to buy a car that could be worth something to them for next to nothing.
Funnily enough, you want to try and avoid this scenario and concentrate on the most effective way to stop this from happening. Without a doubt, this is by looking at your car as a Peugeot, not Peter the Peugeot. It’s not an actor, it’s not a superstar – it’s a car.
Finally…when considering the question How much is my car worth?, try to drop the emotion, do your research and line yourself up for a successful sale.
To health and vehicle happiness,
Your fearless mechanic,
Phil.
VOSA MOT
When you received your MOT certificate you may have noticed the VOSA MOT logo plastered over it.
But what is a VOSA, and what does it take to become an approved VOSA MOT tester?
VOSA MOT
VOSA MOT – No walk in the park
1. First up… to be a VOSA MOT tester is no walk in the park, there are a host of requirements; and you really need to know your stuff.
2. To begin with, there is a requirement to have been in the game as a skilled mechanic for at least four years, full time and experienced in the vehicles you intend to test.
3. To be a VOSA MOT tester it’s also important to have an unrestricted driving license in line with the classes of vehicle you want to test.
4.Next up… someone needs to sponsor you and not just anyone, it needs to be an Authorised Examiner of a vehicle testing station that believes you have what it takes to do the job justice.
5. Oh… to be a VOSA MOT tester you can’t be a lawbreaker. Convictions for criminal offences linked to the Vehicle Testing Scheme or the motor trade, or involving acts of violence or intimidation are a big no, no.
6. VOSA also specifies that for classes III, IV, V or VII, you must pass the NTT assessment exam or an assessment of a similar vehicle qualification.
Ok so that’s all good and well, and maybe it sound like a touch of “mumbo jumbo” but what is VOSA or more importantly, what do they do?
What does VOSA do?
VOSA basically helps to improve road safety by ensuring drivers, vehicle operators and MOT garages understand and comply with roadworthiness standards.
Ok so that sounds nice and simple. But they also provide a range of vehicle licensing, testing and enforcement services, and during 2014 merged with the Driving Standards Agency to become the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency.
VOSA Responsibilities
Just like any Standards Agency VOSA have a number of responsibilities:
Addressing the annual testing of lorries, buses and trailers through authorised testing facilities (ATFs) and goods vehicle testing stations (GVTS)
Conducting routine and targeted checks on vehicles, drivers and operators ensuring compliance with road safety legislation and environmental standards
Overseeing the VOSA MOT scheme so that over 20,000 authorised garages carry out MOT tests to the correct standards
Supporting the Traffic Commissioners with commercial vehicle license applications permitting them to carry out their independent regulatory function
conducting post-collision investigations
Providing a range of educational and advisory activities to promote VOSA road safety
Regulating, licensing and registration of local bus services defects, highlighting safety concerns and monitoring safety recalls
Monitoring products for manufacturing or design
VOSA is not just for MOT’s
As you can see VOSA handles a little more than just regulating your VOSA MOT. The agency has a host of responsibilities to make sure we have a safe environment to drive in.
So if you’re looking for a registered VOSA MOT tester feel free to get in touch, we’d be happy to help.
To health and vehicle happiness,
Your fearless Mechanic,
Phil
Driving Without MOT
So here it is:
Driving without MOT is a serious motoring offence that could leave you facing a hefty fine, yet you know what? Two thirds of motorists admit to driving without a valid MOT! No Bueno!
According to a study conducted by the SMMT, 67% of motorists admit to driving without MOT. That means a third of motorists are naughty, naughty boys and girls.
Now these protagonists are not just forgetful but most of them have knowingly driven a car for up to a week without a valid MOT certificate, with 24% admitting to going all out and driving without an MOT for up to a month.
When it comes to driving without MOT we all know the rules, so my question is, why bend them?
Driving Without MOT
Yes ok… if you are caught and found guilty driving without a valid MOT, the penalty is just a fine. And yes there are a number of exemptions and excuses that can be used in cases like this. But at the end of the day if you get caught, you can face fines of up to £1000, invalidating your insurance in the process – it’s simply not worth it.
The SMMT study also found noteworthy regional differences in driving without MOT responses.
Ok… so pick a location, any location – North, South, East or West?
Which area of the UK do you think came out top of the “bad boy” Driving Without an MOT table?
Yep you guessed it, it was us Southerners – to be specific the South West of the UK, with 41% of motorists in the South West admitting to forgetting to renew their MOT.
Age also seemed to be an important factor. The research suggests that young motorists are the least likely to remember to carry out a MOT, with 39% of 18-24 year olds admitting to driving without an MOT after it had expired. Of course research also identified that the most conscientious motorists were in the 45-54 year age group.
Driving without MOT and risking safety, fines and penalty points makes no sense.
A cool service you can sign up to as a reminder, and which actually has some useful information to prevent you ever driving without an MOT, is available at www.passmymot.co.uk.
So don’t snooze and lose, if it’s that time of the year where your MOT is due, feel free to get in touch – we’re here to help.
To health and vehicle happiness,
Your fearless mechanic,
Phil.