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Check Car Value by VIN | Vehicle Valuation Search

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Check Car Value by VIN | Vehicle Valuation Search

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Planning to purchase a used car? Or going to sell your old vehicle? If you’re wondering if it’s a wise investment like Redditor @MxrceloVictor1, then you must estimate your car value before making any financial decision. This post will show you 3 methods on how to check car value by VIN.

Table of contents

Why should you check vehicle market value?

  • Monitor your car value to take care of your most important asset;
  • Avoid overpaying for a used car you’re planning to buy;
  • Stop losing potential buyers due to overvaluing your car.

What factors affect your car value?

  • Condition of your car — how much wear and tear the car has, damages, repairs;
  • Make and model — some cars just have an inherently higher resale value when brands want to hold their value due to a reputation for reliability;
  • Service history — a full service history adds value to your car;
  • Modifications — most buyers prefer unmodified cars;
  • Mileage — the more you drive, the less it values;
  • Car color;
  • The sales venue — private sales earn more than selling to a dealership.

How to check car value by VIN?

Here we’re going to introduce 3 ways to value a vehicle — free or paid.

Method 1 BeenVerified

BeenVerified is your go-to option when you need to search for a detailed report with tiny known info. It enables people to search people with names, phone, addresses, emails, or usernames, and vehicles with VIN or license plates. Boasting a large database, it combs through information linking to your search and returns it in a well-constructed report.

Search Now>>

Wait for the algorithm to generate the report for you. You’ll need to pay for a subscription to access the report. In the report, you may find the car’s accident history, title records, market value, recalls, and other info.

Estimate car value from BeenVerified
VIN report from BeenVerified

Method 2 Online free tool

If you prefer free tools, you can always find free online tools from Google. For example, Consumer Reports is one of the car value estimators when you google for these tools.

By selecting the make, model, year, and trim, you can obtain the general value of your car. In addition, the number becomes more accurate when you enter mileage and other add-ons.

However, all the numbers you get are too general, given that these tools only consider parts of the factors affecting a car’s value. But it’s still worth a try for they can offer a basic range of market value of a similar car.

Method 3 Bumper

If you’re looking for a tool specializing in vehicles, give a shot to Bumper. It has multiple tools to check car value, branded value, and recall history, as well as compare vehicles. It has helped people to buy and sell vehicles for years.

To check your car value by VIN, follow these steps:

  1. Head to the Bumper website and fill in your VIN number. Then click Search.
  2. Your report will be ready in minutes. Pay to unlock it. Or you can also check it on your mobile with its app downloaded.

How to increase a car’s resale value?

“Does cleaning your car increase trade in value?” Inquired a user on the City-Data forum2. If you too are interested in this matter, continue reading to discover tips for enhancing the value of your vehicle.

  • Keep it clean: Regularly clean the interior and exterior of the car, and do a thorough cleaning before selling it. A tidy vehicle helps buyers picture what it will be like to sit in the car.
  • Address minor repairs: Fix all issues including unnoticed ones like dents, scratches, or chipped paint.
  • Prepare the paperwork: Show complete records of servicing and repairs your car has received can help reassure potential buyers about the car’s condition. Also keep all accompanying invoices for work carried out, as well as old MOT certificates.
  • Make necessary upgrades: Ensure the ties and other vital parts are in good condition. Consider upgrading to higher-quality tires for better performance and safety if necessary.
  • Find anything that came with the car: Buyers will be interested in parts that came with the car such as the parcel shelf, tool kit or spare wheel.

What should you know about car value?

  • Average market value: for a vehicle with no mechanical defects and passes all necessary inspections with ease. 
  • Trade-in value: the amount that a car dealer pays you toward the purchase price of a new or used car in exchange for your old car.
  • Private party value: the price you could expect for a vehicle sales transaction between two consumers.
  • Average trade-in: for a vehicle that is mechanically sound but may require some repairs/servicing to pass all necessary inspections.
  • Rough trade-in: for a vehicle with significant mechanical defects requiring repairs in order to restore the reasonable running condition.

Once you have acquired essential knowledge about vehicle value, be cautious of common scams such as counterfeit or manipulated bank checks3. Wishing you a seamless experience when buying or selling a pre-owned vehicle.

  1. howto [MxrceloVictor]. (2023, November 24). Check a car to see if it’s worth buying [Online forum post]. Reddit. https://www.reddit.com/r/howto/comments/182hhcq/check_a_car_to_see_if_its_worth_buying/ ↩︎
  2. Automotive [easy62]. (2019, February 15). Does cleaning your car increase trade in value? [Online forum post]. City-Data.
    https://www.city-data.com/forum/automotive/3017159-does-cleaning-your-car-increase-trade-2.htmlf ↩︎
  3. Porsche Technical Discussion Areas [tfm]. (2023, April 17). $32,000 car buying scam? [Online forum post]. Rennlist. https://rennlist.com/forums/993-forum/1345197-32-000-car-buying-scam.html ↩︎

Quotation icons created by Prashanth Rapolu 15 – Flaticon

exclamation-blueThere’s no guarantee you’ll find the information you’re looking for with the tools discussed in this article. They all source their information from publicly available data sources, such as county, state and federal courts, government departments, and police records, and those sources may contain incorrect or incomplete data. It’s illegal to use these tools to make decisions about employment, admission, consumer credit, insurance, tenant screening, or any other purpose that would require FCRA compliance. Read the Fair Credit Reporting Act to learn more....

About this article

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Yuki's curiosity knows no bounds when it comes to knowledge. With two years of programming under her belt, she's embarked on thrilling projects that showcase her unique blend of creativity and analytical acumen. From developing a captivating poetry website to diving into the depths of data analysis and venturing into the world of mobile app development, she became excellent at Internet research and data mining.

But her journey doesn't end in the classroom. Prior to joining Super Easy, she has honed her writing skills as a contributor at SHEIN, delved into the intricacies of marketing as a specialist for an international e-commerce company, facilitated dreams as an educational consultant for a company assisting individuals in studying abroad, and lent her IT expertise as an assistant for britishcouncil.org. This breadth of experience has enriched her perspective on the digital landscape, making her a true expert in uncovering hidden gems on the web.

Yet, Yuki's interests extend far beyond the digital realm. When she's not crafting informative content, she's often found taking refreshing dips in the pool, embarking on thrilling adventures around the globe, or immersing herself in the captivating realm of theater. These passions not only rejuvenate her spirit but also serve as a wellspring of creativity, ensuring that her writing remains vibrant, engaging, and relatable.

About this article

round-success 12 Revisions

file-success Reviewed by BeenVerified

Yuki Huang

Writer

Yuki's curiosity knows no bounds when it comes to knowledge. With two years of programming under her belt, she's embarked on thrilling projects that showcase her unique blend of creativity and analytical acumen. From developing a captivating poetry website to diving into the depths of data analysis and venturing into the world of mobile app development, she became excellent at Internet research and data mining. Bu [...]

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