What can affect the price of my vehicle and its valuation?
We provide an initial valuation when you enter your vehicle's details on the Car-Ma website. This will be based on its make, model, age, and mileage, and assume that it is in excellent condition. Some factors will affect the final valuation of your car:
Mileage: A lower mileage usually equates to a higher value as it means that your vehicle has probably had less wear on the engine, interior, and exterior. On average, a UK driver covers 8,000-15,000 miles every year.
Condition: Damage from UK roads, parking lots, and curbs, such as stone chips, dents, and scratches, can affect your car's value. Being upfront about your car’s condition during profiling helps us set an accurate reserve price so that there are no surprises on collection day. Car-Ma’s online form and photo link make it easy to capture your car’s condition.
Service history: The more comprehensive and up-to-date your car's service history is, the better its value, as it shows proven maintenance by qualified mechanics. This assures dealers that the car is in good working order.
MOT: A recent MOT ensures the car is roadworthy, giving dealers confidence to make offers.
Number of previous owners: Fewer owners usually mean a better valuation, but even if your car has had multiple owners, Car-Ma can still find good dealer offers. You can check the number of owners on your V5C document.
Vehicle Colour: Colour can slightly influence value. Some colours are more popular, such as blue, grey, and black so they can attract more offers than less common ones like pink or orange.
Location: Cars in remote areas could have lower valuations due to higher collection and transportation costs for dealers.
Insurance Write-offs: Car-ma dealers are not allowed to purchase cars that are classified as "write-offs" by insurers (Category A, B, S, or N). We can, however, connect you with a buyer specialising in written-off vehicles. If you'd like to check your vehicle’s status, enter your reg on the Car-Ma homepage for more details, or contact our Customer Service Team.