How We Figure Out What Your Vehicle Is Worth

Every offer we make starts from the same question: what can this vehicle realistically be resold, repaired or parted out for? Here's what goes into it, in plain language.

The starting point: what the vehicle is

Year, make, model, trim and engine are where every offer starts. If you're not sure of the trim, a photo of the VIN lets us look it up.

Condition

This is where most of the difference between offers comes from:

• Does it start and drive? A vehicle that drives normally can be resold as-is. One that doesn't usually has to be repaired or parted out, which changes the math.
• Mechanical problems: engine noises, transmission slipping, overheating and warning lights.
• Body and glass: dents, rust, accident damage and cracked windshields.
• Interior: torn seats, smells, water damage and missing parts.
• Tires: whether they hold air and how much tread is left.

Title and paperwork

A clean title in your name is the simplest case. A salvage title, a loan that isn't paid off, or a missing title can lower the offer or change what's needed to complete the sale. See selling a vehicle with a title problem for the details.

What happens to it next

A vehicle that can be resold after small repairs is valued on what it will sell for. A vehicle that needs major work is valued on what it will sell for after those repairs, minus their cost. A vehicle that won't be put back on the road is valued on its usable parts and metal. That's why a car that doesn't run still gets an offer. More on that in selling a non-running or damaged vehicle.

The current market

Used-vehicle prices move up and down over time. Our offer is based on what similar vehicles are selling for right now.

Why your photos and description matter

We give you a number based on what you tell us and what your photos show. Then we confirm it when we see the vehicle in person. The offer can change if there's a problem we didn't know about, like a transmission that slips, a warning light, or damage that wasn't in the photos. Being upfront about problems and sending clear photos is the best way to get a number that holds at pickup.

Not sure what to send? See our step-by-step selling guide, which includes a photo checklist.

Why our offer may differ from an online estimate

Online pricing tools give a range based on typical vehicles, usually assuming the vehicle runs and has a clean title. They can't see your specific vehicle. Our offer is for your specific vehicle as it actually is. For how other buyers handle this, see Blue Line vs. CarMax and Blue Line vs. Carvana.