The three values of a car
| Value | What it means | Who pays it |
|---|---|---|
| Retail | What a dealer asks on its lot | Car shoppers buying from a dealer |
| Private party | What another driver pays you directly | Private buyers |
| Wholesale or trade-in | What a business pays to resell the car | Dealers, auctions and instant buyers |
- What it means:
- What a dealer asks on its lot
- Who pays it:
- Car shoppers buying from a dealer
- What it means:
- What another driver pays you directly
- Who pays it:
- Private buyers
- What it means:
- What a business pays to resell the car
- Who pays it:
- Dealers, auctions and instant buyers
Online valuation tools mostly estimate these for a running car in average condition. If your car is damaged or doesn't run, those numbers won't apply, and an instant offer is a much better guide.
What moves the number
- Year, make, model and trim, which set the starting point
- Mileage, especially around 100,000 and 150,000 miles where buyers get cautious
- Mechanical condition: does it start, drive and shift properly
- Body condition: dents, rust, hail and accident repairs
- Title status: clean, salvage or rebuilt
- Accident history on vehicle reports
- Local demand, such as trucks in rural areas or hybrids in cities
No obligation.
How to raise your car's value
Small, cheap fixes help a private sale: a new battery, matching tires, a detail and fixing warning lights with simple causes. Major repairs almost never add as much value as they cost. For an instant buyer, the best thing you can do is describe the car accurately and have the title ready.
Is a car valuation free?
Yes. Online valuation tools and instant cash offers are free, and an offer from Car Emptor costs nothing and carries no obligation. Free estimates assume average condition, so for a car with damage, mechanical trouble or high miles, a real offer based on the car as it is gives you the more useful number.
How accurate are online car value estimates?
They're a fair starting range for a clean, running car in average condition. They can't see your car, so damage, warning lights, worn tires, missing keys or a branded title all pull the real price below the estimate. Local demand also moves prices by region and season, which is why two offers for the same model can differ.
How much is a car that doesn't run worth?
Usually its parts and metal value, plus whatever the model is still worth to someone who will fix it. Weight times the local scrap price sets the floor, and a working engine, transmission or clean body raise it. A late-model car that won't start can still bring well above scrap. Our junk car value guide shows the math.
Does a salvage title lower a car's value?
Yes, often by a lot. Many buyers and lenders avoid branded titles, and some insurers limit coverage on them, so fewer people compete for the car. The size of the drop depends on the model and the damage, so compare offers for the car as it is instead of applying a fixed percentage you read online.
Does high mileage kill a car's value?
It lowers the value but rarely wipes it out. Buyers get more cautious past 100,000 and again past 150,000 miles, and service records soften the drop. A high-mileage car that runs well still sells to people who need a cheap daily driver, and one that doesn't run still has parts and metal value.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my trade-in offer so much lower than the online value?
The dealer has to recondition and resell the car at a profit, so it pays wholesale. Online tools often show private-party or retail values, which are higher.
Does mileage or age matter more?
Both matter, but condition often matters most. A well-kept older car can be worth more than a newer one that's been neglected.