What Car Valuation: How It Works

What Is the What Car Valuation?

The What Car valuation is a free online tool from What Car?, the UK consumer motoring title, that estimates how much a car is worth. It considers information such as the vehicle's age, mileage and condition alongside used-car market data.

To get a valuation, you choose the reason for your valuation, such as buying, selling or insuring. You then enter your car's registration number so the vehicle can be identified automatically, and set the mileage and condition before requesting your valuation. You provide your first name, phone number and email address so that What Car? can send you your valuation certificate.

The valuation provides an estimate of your car's value based on the information you provide. The figure you could actually pay or achieve when buying or selling may vary depending on the car's condition, service history, current market demand and how the transaction takes place.

How to get a What Car valuation, step by step

1. Choose your valuation purpose. Select whether you are checking a buying, selling or insurance value.
2. Enter your car's registration number. The registration is used to identify your vehicle automatically.
3. Confirm the vehicle details. Check that the identified make, model and specification are correct.
4. Set the mileage and condition. Adjusting these changes the estimate, so enter them as accurately as you can.
5. Provide your contact details. Enter your first name, phone number and email address so What Car? can send your valuation certificate.
6. Get your valuation. What Car? then provides your estimated values.

The exact on-screen process can change, so check the live What Car? valuation tool when completing your valuation.

What Car Value My Car: Check Your Car's Value by Registration

Searching for a What Car value my car service or a What Car valuation by number plate? The registration number is the starting point.

Your registration allows What Car? to identify important details about your vehicle, including its make, model, engine, trim and colour. You then provide the information the registration cannot tell the valuation tool, such as the car's mileage and condition.

Mileage can have a significant effect on used-car value. Two otherwise identical cars can be worth different amounts if one has covered substantially more miles. Condition matters for the same reason: a well-maintained car with little cosmetic or mechanical wear is likely to appeal to more buyers than an equivalent vehicle requiring repairs.

Being realistic about your car's condition is therefore important. An optimistic condition rating may produce a higher estimate, but it could give you an unrealistic benchmark when you come to sell.

What affects the value of your car

A car's value is influenced by more than its registration number. Key factors include:

• Age – older vehicles generally depreciate as they accumulate years.
• Mileage – higher mileage can reduce a car's market value.
• Condition – bodywork, interior wear, tyres and mechanical condition can all affect what buyers are prepared to pay.
• Service history – a complete, well-documented service history can make a car more attractive to buyers.
• Previous owners – the number of former keepers can influence buyer confidence.
• MOT status – the remaining MOT period and recorded advisories can affect how attractive a used car is. You can check the recorded MOT history with Regit's MOT History Check.
• Market demand – popular models and specifications can command stronger prices, while demand for less desirable cars can be weaker.
• Colour – some colours are easier to sell than others, depending on the model and buyer demand.
• Optional extras – desirable factory-fitted equipment can add appeal, although not every optional extra adds the same amount to a car's value.

What Car? specifically identifies age, mileage and condition as the most important factors, while also highlighting service history, colour, equipment, previous owners and modifications as factors that can affect value.

Valuing a van

What Car?'s valuation tool is designed to value cars rather than commercial vans. If you need to find out how much your van is worth, use Regit's free van valuation instead.

Regit's valuation service can also provide an alternative estimate if What Car? cannot value your vehicle.

The Two Prices in a What Car Valuation: Dealer and Private

A What Car valuation gives you two main price estimates: a dealer price and a private price. These figures give you an indication of what the same car is worth depending on how it changes hands.

The valuation also takes the car's condition into account, so the estimated value can change depending on how well the vehicle has been maintained and presented.

Which figure is most useful depends on what you are trying to do. If you are considering buying a car privately, the private price gives you a useful benchmark. If you are looking at a car being sold by a dealer, compare the advertised price with the dealer price.

Remember that these are estimates rather than guaranteed prices. The amount you eventually pay or receive can vary depending on the individual vehicle, its condition, mileage, service history, specification, location and current market demand.

Dealer value

The dealer value is the amount you should expect to pay when buying the car from a dealer without part-exchanging another vehicle.

It can therefore be useful when you are looking at a used car and want to know whether its advertised price is broadly in line with the market.

Private value

The private value is the price you could expect to pay or receive when buying or selling a car privately.

This can be a useful benchmark if you are planning to advertise your car yourself or are considering buying directly from another owner. If you would rather not handle a private sale, you can compare selling routes with Regit and see what dealers are prepared to pay, or check the figure against an independent free car valuation before you negotiate.

About What Car?

What Car? is a UK motoring publication covering new and used cars, buying advice, car reviews and automotive news. It was first published in November 1973, is published by Haymarket Media Group and is based in Twickenham, London.

The publication also runs its annual What Car? Car of the Year Awards, first held in 1978, which recognise leading new cars across a range of categories. The 2026 overall Car of the Year was the BMW iX3.

Its valuation service draws on vehicle and used-car market data with the aim of reflecting current market conditions. That makes the What Car valuation useful as a market guide, but it should not be treated as a guaranteed amount that a particular buyer or dealer will pay.