RAC Car Valuation: How It Works

What Is the RAC Car Valuation and How Does It Work?

The RAC car valuation is a free online tool designed to estimate the current value of a used car. It analyses thousands of daily vehicle sales to produce a valuation range rather than a single fixed price.

To get started, you enter your vehicle's registration number and mileage on the RAC Cars website. The tool uses this information to identify your car and provide an estimate of what it could be worth in the current market. The RAC says its service offers free valuations without email sign-up.

The valuation is an estimate rather than a guaranteed selling price. The amount a buyer or dealer is ultimately willing to pay can vary depending on the vehicle's actual condition, mileage, specification and current demand.

How to get an RAC car valuation, step by step

Getting an RAC car valuation is straightforward:

1. Enter your registration number and mileage – start by entering your car's registration and current mileage into the RAC valuation tool.
2. View your free valuation range – the tool analyses vehicle sales data and gives you an estimated price range for your car.
3. Continue to the selling process if you want to – if you're considering selling, you can create a profile for your vehicle and provide further details and contact information so dealers can make offers.

The valuation itself is free, so you can use it to understand your car's potential value before deciding what to do next.

Why the RAC valuation is a range, not a single figure

An RAC car valuation is shown as a range because the online tool cannot physically inspect your vehicle. As the RAC puts it, factors including age, mileage and condition all influence the figure, and because the tool can't assess your car's condition precisely it provides a range reflecting its potential worth.

This means the tool works in a similar way to a car valuation calculator, but the result is based on analysis of real vehicle sales rather than a simple fixed formula. The final price could be higher or lower depending on the specific condition and circumstances of your car.

RAC Value My Car: Check Your Car's Value by Reg

The RAC Value My Car service lets you check your car's estimated value online using its registration number. The valuation is based on analysis of thousands of daily vehicle sales, helping to give you a current indication of what a similar used car could be worth.

Checking your car's value before selling or part-exchanging can give you a useful figure to work from when comparing offers. If you are checking a car before selling it, you can also use Regit's free MOT history check to review its previous MOT results, recorded mileages, failures and advisories.

No email needed: what details you actually provide

You can start an RAC car valuation by entering your vehicle's registration number and mileage, and you don't need to provide an email address to see the initial valuation.

This differs from some of the other valuation-check services. For example, to receive the results of a Regit valuation, you'll need to provide your registration number, mileage, reason for the check, and contact details.

If you choose to continue with the RAC selling process, you'll be asked for additional vehicle details and contact information so your car can be presented to dealers and offers can be made.

What affects your RAC car value

Several factors can influence how much a car is worth. The RAC highlights factors including age, mileage, fuel type, market conditions and sales statistics, while the actual condition of the vehicle can also affect the price achieved when selling.

Key factors include:

• Age – older vehicles will generally be worth less than newer examples, although demand for particular models can affect this.
• Mileage – higher mileage can reduce a car's value because it may indicate greater wear and tear.
• Condition – damage, mechanical problems and general wear can affect what buyers are prepared to pay.
• Service history – a well-documented service history can make a vehicle more appealing to buyers.
• MOT history – previous MOT results, failures and advisories can provide useful information about a car's condition.
• Features and specification – desirable equipment and higher specifications can influence demand.
• Colour – some colours may be more desirable in the used-car market than others.
• Number of previous owners – a car's ownership history can form part of how buyers assess it.
• Brand and model popularity – strong demand for a particular make or model can support its used-car value.

For a more detailed look at your vehicle's MOT record, use our MOT history check. If you're preparing to sell and want to check a vehicle's history more broadly, Regit's HPI check can also be a useful pre-sale check.

Valuing an older or classic car

Older and classic cars can behave differently from mainstream used cars, because their value can depend heavily on rarity, condition, originality and demand. A high-mileage car can still receive an instant online valuation where the tool has sufficient market data to work from.

It's worth noting that the RAC states its valuation tool provides prices for used cars up to 2022 models, so very recent vehicles may fall outside its stated coverage.

Selling Your Car After an RAC Valuation

An RAC valuation can be the first step towards selling your car online. If you decide to continue, the RAC's selling service allows your vehicle to be presented to thousands of verified dealers across the UK, who compete in an auction to make an offer.

Once you choose an offer, collection and payment can then be arranged as part of the selling process. You can also compare different ways of selling your car through Regit's sell your car service.

How the RAC sell-my-car service works

Once you've checked your car's value, you can continue into the RAC's selling process if you decide you want to sell. The process works in three main stages:

1. Build your car's profile – enter your registration and mileage to get a free valuation, then provide the additional details needed to create your car's profile.
2. Get your best offer – your car is shown to thousands of verified dealers across the UK, who compete in the auction to give you their best offer.
3. Arrange collection and payment – if you're happy with an offer, collection and payment can then be arranged to complete the sale.

The RAC valuation and the final dealer offer are not necessarily the same figure. The valuation is an estimate based on analysis of thousands of daily vehicle sales, while the dealer offer is the amount a dealer is prepared to pay for your specific car.

RAC valuation vs dealer part-exchange prices

A car valuation gives you a useful benchmark, but the figure you receive from a dealer may be different depending on how you sell your car.

Part exchange, or part ex, is when you sell your current car to a dealer and put its value towards another vehicle. The amount a dealer offers as part-exchange credit can differ from an online valuation, so it's useful to have an idea of your car's value before negotiating.

Dealer prices can also be different from an online valuation because dealers may need to cover the cost of preparing and refurbishing a vehicle before selling it, as well as making a profit. The RAC makes this point directly, explaining that its valuation reflects what you can expect to receive rather than dealer selling prices.

For that reason, check both the valuation and the actual offer before deciding how to sell.

Compare your offers before you commit

The RAC is one of several online services you can use to estimate your car's value. Comparing valuations can give you a broader picture of what your vehicle could be worth before you decide how to sell it. You can also get valuations from the following services:

• AA car valuation – see how the AA's car valuation works and what information it provides.
• Autotrader car valuation – find out how Autotrader values your car and compare its estimate with other valuation tools.
• Confused.com car valuation – see how Confused.com's car valuation produces its four different price estimates.

You can also get an independent free car valuation first from Regit, then compare the figure with any dealer, part-exchange or private-sale offers you receive, as well as comparing different selling routes through our sell your car service.

Looking at more than one figure can help you understand whether an offer is competitive before you commit to a sale.

About the RAC

The RAC has a history dating back to 1897, when it was founded as the Automobile Club of Great Britain. In 1907, it received royal approval and became the Royal Automobile Club.

Today, the RAC provides motoring services to more than 13.6 million UK personal and business members and has approximately 4,000 staff operating from bases in Walsall, Manchester and Bristol. Its patrol force attended 2.6 million breakdowns in 2023.

RAC Cars launched in 2013 as the RAC's car-buying website. The RAC's current shareholders are Silver Lake, GIC and CVC.

The RAC is separate from the Royal Automobile Club members' club today, despite the shared historical origins of the names.