Best Methods to Judge the Value of a Car

The true value of a used car can be judged in many ways. It is very necessary to realize that an old car needs to be appraised. The present condition of the car is the first thing to take into account and whether it is a single ownership vehicle or has it been used by many. We should also find out when it was bought and what the sale value it would have. It is necessary to decide what type of car you want. A single person needs it for transportation alone while a big family will need space for the people and the grocery and pets.

Do a market survey. Go to car delears. Get the car checked for their assessment. Check internet. See what is being offered for a car similar to yours. Go online and see the customer feedback, to find out the common problems faced in a similar car. Look at the classifieds and other automobile magazines to find what deals are offered. Compare prices of cars you are interested in at the local car dealer. Prices will vary from model to model and manufacturer to manufacturer. All these details will make you know what to expect from the car.

The N.A.D.A. guidelines are there for specific types of cars – classic cars, used cars and older used cars. There is information on trade in and retail prices. Information can be obtained from online websites. The Kelly's Blue Book is a great source to find the value of your car. It has a free online service. Many dealers use this to calculate their appraisals. RandB auto center offers information on trade-ins, private party buyers and dealer's relation on trade-ins, private party buyers and dealer's retail.

It is necessary to know the safety history of the car. How many highway driving, long distance or short trips and how many miles have been driven. The car should have been maintained properly with regular oil change and oil filter and air filter as is suggested. We should know whether the car has been on hilly areas which will result in a lot of wear and tear and whether it has been in areas where salt is used for de icing. Salt is corrosive and one should look art the undercarriage to see if it is rusted or the paint is undercoated.

It is good to assess whether car parts are the original parts that came with the car or whether they have been changed in course of time. Look carefully at the lock, if it is the key type one.

Some damages are not visible at first sight. It is necessary to look closely at the space between the cover and the upper front fenders and across the grill. If there are gaps then it means that some damage has occurred. The lowest parts of the body panel of the car, the quarter panels, under the grill and along the edge of the wheels should be checked for corrosion. A magnet can be moved along these areas to check if plastic fillers have been used to repair the metal sheets. View the car from various angles to see if there are any differences in the paint.

Open the hood, and look inside the engine. The oil should be light amber to dark brown in color. If it is black and sticky, it means that it has not been serviced regularly. If it is foaming and milky white, then it is a sign of a cracked block or engine head. The belts, hoses and rubber tube should not have cracks or fading color. If the car is started with hood raised, there should not be any knocking sound. If it is there means that the main bearings are not good enough and that there is not much mileage left on the car. If there is a spluttering sound when the engine is shut off, then it means that a big repair is needed.

The inside of the car should be also checked. The upholstery should not have any tars or wrinkles. Wrinkles mean that it has been exposed to moisture. It should not smell musty, which again means exposure to moisture. The carpet should be lifted to see if any place is corroded.

The car should be taken for a test drive. Sudden turns, sharp brakes and changing gears should all be tried. Any new vibrations heard should be looked into. One should look carefully to assess how the car behaves when it accelerates whether it wobbles or drifts and how the steering wheel reacts. Care should be taken to see how much leg room for comfortable driving. After a test drive, park the car and smell. Look at the tail pipe for water or oil leak and whether there is black soot in the tail pipe.

Ask questions about all the above mentioned areas. All these questions are valid and the answers should be pondered over carefully before making the great decision of buying the car needed.