Three values, three situations
A car does not have one price. The private sale value is what you might expect to pay a private seller. The dealer forecourt value is higher, because dealers prepare cars, cover their overheads and give you legal rights a private sale does not. The part exchange value is what a dealer might offer if you trade the car in, which is the lowest of the three.
Knowing all three helps you negotiate. If a private seller is asking forecourt money, you have a reason to offer less. If a dealer's price is well above the forecourt figure, ask what you are getting for it. Remember that a dealer's price includes preparation and your legal rights, which have a value of their own.
History changes value
Two cars with the same make, model, age and mileage can be worth very different amounts. A write-off, a long list of previous keepers or an unexplained colour change all affect what a car is worth, and what you will get when you sell it. Outstanding finance is a different problem: it affects who owns the car rather than what it is worth, so it must be settled before you buy.
That is why the valuation sits alongside the history in the same report. Look at the write-off check and the previous owners check before you use the figures to agree a price.
Mileage matters too. A car with a mileage drop flagged in the mileage check has an uncertain true mileage, which makes any valuation less reliable.
Use the valuation with the MOT history
A valuation assumes a car in the condition you would expect for its age and mileage. If the MOT history shows advisories for tyres, brakes or corrosion, the work they need comes off the price. Get a rough quote for the repairs and use it in your offer.
Condition, service history and the colour and options buyers want all move the real price up or down. A car with a full service history and receipts for big jobs, such as a cambelt or a clutch, is worth more than one without. Treat the valuation as a starting point, not a final figure.
If you are part exchanging your own car at a dealer, run the check on it too. Knowing its part exchange value gives you a figure to negotiate from.
Part of the full history check
The valuation is part of the full history check, which costs £4.49, or £3.00 a check in a pack of 10. You also get finance, write-off, stolen, keeper and plate checks, plus the full specification. The free check covers MOT, tax and mileage. Run the full check before you make an offer, so you know where you stand.