What should I know about car valuation?
Our car valuation tool will give you a car's price straight away, putting you in a strong position when it comes to agreeing a price by knowing your car's value. All we need is the vehicle registration number and you can start right away! What you do with this information will depend on:
• If you're buying a car
• If you're selling a car
You'll then be presented with four different prices: the private value, part-exchange value, forecourt value and quick sale value. These can help you decide who to buy from and work out if a seller's price is fair.
If you're selling a car, you can use our car valuation tool to get an accurate idea of what price to sell your car for. This is key when negotiating a sale, as it allows you to guard against any buyer who offers you a price that's below the vehicle's worth. Again, we'll ask you for the registration of the car and if you plan on buying or selling it.
We'll then give you the car's sale price via a private sale, part-exchange, forecourt and quick sale. This allows you to choose the best way to sell your vehicle.
What can affect the value of my car?
A car's value can be increased by:
• Having no damage
• Providing a complete service history
• Certain car colours
• Additional features
• How and where the car is sold
A car's value can be decreased by:
• Modifications
• Wear and tear
• Broken car parts
• Car documents that aren't up to date
• A higher number of previous owners
Providing a complete service history record for the car will increase its value as potential buyers can see that the car has been regularly serviced and taken care of.
Certain car colours are more desirable than others to potential buyers. These cars will usually sell for more than a car with a less desirable colour. Different colours are popular on different models, it probably isn't worth paying for a respray.
Additional features such as a built-in sat nav, dash cam, rear-parking camera or a multimedia system in the car can help it sell for a higher price.
How and where the car is sold can affect its value. Selling your car through Confused.com means you'll get a quick and easy sale with minimal fuss – and possibly get a better deal than through a private sale.
Modifications made to cars can decrease the value. Unmodified cars are usually more desirable to buyers. Keep this in mind if you're planning to modify a car that you may want to sell in the future. Modifications might not put off potential buyers but some insurers may refuse to insure a modified car.
Wear and tear and scratches to the bodywork can bring down the value of a car. Spending a bit of cash to replace or repair damaged parts could be well worth it when it comes to selling.
Broken car parts that need repairing or replacing, will have a negative effect on the car's value.
Car documents that aren't up to date, such as no current MOT or gaps in the car's service history, can have just as negative an effect on a car's value as physical damage.
A higher number of previous owners can also affect the value of the car. Generally, the more owners a car has had, the less the car will be worth.
You might also be interested in
Car insurance
is a legal requirement if you're driving in the UK. Find out more about choosing the right cover at the right price.
Car Selling
online has never been easier. We've teamed up with Motorway to offer a no-hassle service.
MOT, servicing & repairs
for your car needn't be expensive. We'll help you find the right person to fix your car.
Related Guides

Tips for buying a car
Buying a car can be a confusing business. Here's everything you need to know. We tackle everything from budgeting and choosing the right car to negotiating the best deal possible.

When's the best time to sell your car?
You may not consider the resale value of your car when you first buy it. But after you've owned it for a few month or years, it can become a significant factor which shouldn't be ignored.

Our complete guide to selling your car
Selling your car isn't an easy task. But if you decide to sell your car privately, there are a couple of things you need to keep in mind.

Your car buying checklist
Buying a car is an exciting prospect. Due to depreciation, most people decide to go down the used car route. So it's useful to know what to look out for before you make that important purchase.
Confused.com Car Valuation Check data is provided by UK Vehicle Data Ltd (Company Number 09756191) registered address; Princess House, Princess Way, Swansea, SA1 3LW.