"What is my vehicle really worth???"

[valuator]

For us as car owners, if we had to sell our car we would want to ask for a good price especially if we know the car was well-maintained.

In other cases for instance if our car has been stolen, we would want to be be repaid according to what we could have gotten for our car on the market.

In case of mortgage or re-financing, and were using our car as collateral, can we just simply give the lender a price that a guy offered us two weeks ago for it?

What is my car really worth?

[Rory Phoulorie]

How is the receipt from the seller going to prove its worth? It will only prove the worth at the time of sale and would therefore, at least, give you a starting point from which to factor in depreciation.

How are you going to prove the date on which the photograph was taken showing the condition of the vehicle? Get a Justice of the Peace to pose with the car and then get an affidavit from him/her confirming the date that the photograph was taken and that it was he/she in the photograph?

Are you really going to find a car in the exact (I am using your words) condition (mechanical, body and engine) as your car?

I believe an independent valuation is the way to go. I used Motor Critic to do the valuation on my car. I know some insurance companies have their own valuators and you could probably consult with your insurer about their preferred valuators.

BTW, the receipt from the seller and the photographs should still be pursued in addition to the valuation. With digital cameras, you can take graphically update the condition of the vehicle on a regular basis at little cost to you.

[valuator]

I wont put this question up for a vote because we have different perceptions of what might be the reason for this.

However, I must say we sould be able to excercise the option of choosing who we want to appraise our cars considering that the appraisor is qualified.

[valuator]

Steps to Selling Your Car

Step 1: Know the Market

Is your car going to be easy to sell? Is it a hot commodity? Or will you have to drop your price and search out additional avenues to sell it?

Here are a few general rules to answer these questions:
• Family sedans, while unexciting to many, are in constant demand by people needing basic, inexpensive transportation.
• SUVs are very popular right now and often move quickly, even older models.
• The sale of convertibles u on your own
• Trucks and vans, used for work, are steady sellers and command competitive prices. Don't underestimate their value.
• Collector cars will take longer to sell and are often difficult to price and appraise. However, these cars can have unexpected value if you find the right buyer especially outside of Trinidad.

Step 2: Price Your Car Competitively

There are always some exceptions to the rules of pricing, so you should follow your intuition. And be sure to leave a little wiggle room in your asking price. Ask for slightly more money than you are actually willing to accept. If you want to get $12,000 for the car, you should list the car at $14,000. That way, if you get $12,000. — great! But if you have to go lower, it won't be a terrible loss.

You may have noticed how creative used car dealers get in pricing cars. Their prices usually don’t talk about transfer fees, which vary by the thousands. Find out if the price includes or excludes transfer fees, which seriously influences the purchase decision.

[VWBaby]

Normally get a book value of said auto and then go from there. You list higher than you will get and put obo and see what happens. Once a car is driven out the showroom it loses value

[eliteauto]

^^loses 15% actually, I tend to follow market trends in terms of the value of cars e.g ask around and see what they selling for in the newspapers

[valuator]

Step 3: Give Your Car "Original Appeal"

When people come to look at your car, they will probably make up their minds to buy it or not within the first few seconds. This is based on their first look at the car. So you want this first look to be positive. You want your car to have "curb appeal."

Before you advertise your car for sale, make sure it looks as clean and attractive as realistically possible. This goes beyond just taking it to the car wash. Here is a to-do list that could help turn your heap into a cream puff:

• Make sure it is washed, waxed and detailed.

• Make sure your car is both mechanically sound and free from dents, dings and scrapes.

• Consider making low-cost repairs rather than selling it "as is."

• Shovel out all the junk from the inside of the car. When prospective buyers go for a test-drive, you don't want them to feel like they've walked into your messy bedroom. Let them visualize the car as theirs.

• Wipe the brake dust off the wheel covers and clean the tires with a tire gloss product.

• Clean the windows (in and out) and all the mirrored surfaces

• Wipe down the dashboard and empty the ashtrays.

• Have all your maintenance records ready to show prospective buyers

• If the car needs servicing or even a routine oil change, take care of that before putting it up for sale.

• Get an Independent Valuator to inspect the car inside out & under. You can use the report to negotiate on price.