AUTO P. I. MOBILE PRE-PURCHASE INSPECTIONS 512-454-5999
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Determining the True Value of a Used Vehicle
Most buyers, dealers, and financial institutions use some vehicle pricing guide to determine the
value of a vehicle. The most popular is the NADA Official Used Car Guide, or similar publications like
Edmonds, Kelly's Blue Book, Black Book, etc...
These buying guides (and websites) typically contain the market's retail, wholesale, and loan values for used vehicles. These prices are based on the current used car sales in a specific country region and include additions or deductions for equipment packages and low or excessive mileage.
The major flaw of these publications is that there are no deductions for existing mechanical problems and
deductions if the vehicle has been in an accident. These publications cannot distinguish between two
identical vehicles, one well-maintained vehicle, and one with existing mechanical or structural problems.
The difference between these two cars can be hundreds to thousands of dollars in value.
Many of these publications instruct you to "Deduct for Reconditioning" but give no instructions on how to calculate these deductions. A professional inspection from an ASE Master Technician should give you the dollar amount for any repairs or needed maintenance items. Buyers should take that amount and subtract it from the published book value. This will provide the buyer the actual value of the vehicle. The Technician should let you know if the vehicle was abused or well maintained. This also affects the price of the vehicle.
Don't decide by looks alone - every used car should be clean and good-looking. However, an Auto P. I. inspection will determine existing problems such as previous accident damage, odometer discrepancies, needed mechanical repairs and maintenance items, prior shoddy repairs, misuse, and abuse, etc... Once you purchase, these problems can cost hundreds to thousands of dollars to fix. Why buy a vehicle for more than its true value. Without a professional inspection, you could be buying someone else's problem vehicle.