topic Re: Auto Appraisers in Among Friends

Auto Appraisers

Puzzle Piece — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 19:46:07 GMT

Do you trust auto appraisers?

I will have to locate one who is truthful and honest concerning a car that I will be selling

What do you think?

Re: Auto Appraisers

kaydee50 — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 20:02:34 GMT

What is that company that is advertisied on TV? Carvana?? It makes the process of selling a car look so easy. Don't have personal experience since fortunately we do not own a car!

Re: Auto Appraisers

Venezia — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 20:15:42 GMT

@Puzzle Piece - Put your details first into something like Edmunds or Kelly Blue Book. That will give you a ballpark figure to work with before any appraiser looks at it, so you'll know if the quote seems fair.

Re: Auto Appraisers

Meowingkitty — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 20:56:05 GMT

The last time I bought and sold a car was 2016 and I used Carmax. I got a lot more money than I ever thought I could for my two cars. I would also explore Carvana.

Re: Auto Appraisers

Carmie — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 21:19:30 GMT

I always check to see what Kelly Blue Book says my vehicles are worth. (on line)

An appraiser uses the same tools as do banks and lenders. I would never pay for an appraisal for a car.

You can look up whole sale prices as well as retail prices. If you are selling to a dealer, they will buy low and sell high.

You can get more money if you sell the car yourself.

Re: Auto Appraisers

Snowpuppy — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 21:28:39 GMT

Edmunds will give you a more detailed value than KBB.

I would steer clear of Carvana. Not only have they been in trouble with the FL Atty General for not providing clear titles, Wall Street loves them for their blow out earnings per vehicle.

Carvana estimates they profit $6k per car. Someone gonna pay for those pickup/delivery fees.

Get it cleaned, put a For Sale sign on it, Fact Sheet in the window with Best Offer.

Re: Auto Appraisers

spumoni99 — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 21:29:02 GMT

@Meowingkitty wrote:
The last time I bought and sold a car was 2016 and I used Carmax. I got a lot more money than I ever thought I could for my two cars. I would also explore Carvana.

@MeowingkittyWe were also happy with our experience selling our car with Carmax.

Re: Auto Appraisers

Q-Checker — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 22:54:40 GMT

I have sold cars for far more than offered by car dealerships and appraisers. Once you know the BlueBook value of your car, you can determine the asking price. I have advertised in newspapers in this large metropolitan area -- in today's world, an online local site might be better. My last ad said "Forced to sell a friend" and it got a huge amount of attention. I felt forced to sell a well maintained and running car as the car had 120,000 miles on it and I did not feel safe driving an older car alone at night. I received more than my (above BlueBook value) asking price within hours of the ad appearing. I included all of the receipts, along with any warranties, for maintenance and repairs over the years. A man bought that car for his teenage son to drive to an after school job -- made me happy to see my "friend" go to a good home after years of faithful service to me.

Re: Auto Appraisers

deeva — Thu, 01 May 2025 01:44:32 GMT

I sold my car to Carvana last year and it went great.
I got another quote from another company and the price difference was less than $200.

We have a Carvana less than fifteen minutes from our home, so pick up wasn't an issue, drove the car there and left with payment in twenty minutes.

Re: Auto Appraisers

Sooner — Thu, 01 May 2025 02:30:34 GMT

I always know the book value of a car I am upgrading and sometimes get a good deal at a dealership by refusing to look at their appraisal of the car.

I figure the difference between what I would take for my car, judging from book value, and what the new car should sell for. That is the ONLY number I will talk to them about. No paper charges, no undercoating, only the $$$$$ difference. And I've done pretty well with that. At least I know where I stand on trade or sell the car.

Just for someone who might be interested in that sort of thing.

Re: Auto Appraisers

CalminHeart — Fri, 02 May 2025 11:44:18 GMT

The Kelley Blue Book will tell you what you need to know.

I tried to sell a car to Carvana. They low-balled me. I went to the used car lot for the dealer I bought it from and they paid me 4 times what Carvana offered.