Not to be too obvious, but we’ve found that the simplest definition is the most useful. With that in mind, an effective vehicle valuation report can tell you what the value of your car is. More importantly, this kind of report will provide you with the trade value and retail value of your car, as well as a detailed summary of the car. In addition to the make and model, this summary also includes the transmission type, engine size, and much more.

This type of information is important for several reasons, not least of which includes simply knowing how much your car is worth. After all, knowledge is power, and if you’re thinking about selling or buying a car, then having a vehicle valuation report can greatly benefit you.

In this article, we’re going to go through a few of the more salient reasons why you should get a vehicle valuation report so that you’ll be informed with all the relevant information before making any major decisions.

Here are just a few ways that a vehicle valuation report could be helpful to you.

Refinance your vehicle

Vehicle refinancing is when you take a new vehicle loan out on your car. It’s essentially a replacement loan, with new repayment terms. Not only can refinancing your car get you a lower interest rate and lower installments, which could mean paying off your loan quicker, but it’s also a way to address a situation where your initial loan is greater than your car’s value.

To figure out if the loan you’re currently paying for your car is more than what its worth, get a hold of a vehicle valuation report. These reports are easy enough to find, but you want to make sure it’s coming from a reliable source.

That’s one of the reasons we’ve included the opportunity to get a free vehicle valuation report on the AA Inform site.

Sell your car quicker, for the best price
Selling your car? No doubt you want to get the best possible price and you want to sell your car as quickly as possible. Thankfully, a vehicle valuation report can help you determine how much your car is worth so you can negotiate a better, fair price and avoid being cheated.
Believe us, it’s far better than taking your car for a quick estimate at your nearest dealership or coming up with a rough guestimate yourself – potentially risking a major loss.

Avoid Getting Scammed
The number of scams associated with buying and selling used cars out there would have you thinking that the only way to buy a car these days is by opting for something brand new, straight out the box. But with a vehicle valuation report, you’ll have all the information you need at your fingertips, including an accurate estimate of a car’s worth, so that you can avoid getting scammed.

Buy your next car for the best price
In Q2 2022, TransUnion reported that the latest vehicle pricing index (VPI) for used vehicles had risen from 4.9% to 8.3%, making it a seller’s market. As a buyer, even though you know that used cars are more expensive, you still want to make sure that you get the most value out of your Rand.

The last thing you want to do is overpay.

It’s easy to get caught up in the knowledge that used cars are just getting more expensive, but a vehicle valuation report will tell you how much the car is worth and whether the asking price is fair or not.

Feel informed?
We hope that this information helps, and don’t forget that AA Inform is home to a range of useful tools and resources, from calculating your fuel consumption for specific trips to a free vehicle valuation report.