What is a car's market value?
The market value of a car (valor venal) is the price a vehicle would fetch on the second-hand market under normal conditions, taking into account its age, wear and tear and general condition. Insurance companies use it as a reference to calculate compensation in the event of a total loss, and scrapyards use it as a basis for vehicle valuation intended for dismantling.
Knowing your car's market value is essential if you have had an accident, if you want to sell it to a scrapyard or simply to know how much your car is worth in the current market.
How is market value calculated?
The market value is calculated using a formula based on the market price of the new vehicle and applying correction coefficients depending on:
- Vehicle age — the older the vehicle, the lower the market value. An annual depreciation of between 10% and 15% is applied.
- Mileage — high mileage reduces the car's value.
- State of conservation — aesthetic and mechanical wear influences the final valuation.
- Model demand — some models retain their value better due to their popularity in the spare parts market.
There are tools such as the Ganbam value or the BOE tables that publish the annual depreciation coefficients for calculating market value.
Factors that influence market value
In addition to the standard coefficients, there are specific factors that can vary your car's market value:
- Make and model — premium range cars or models with high parts demand retain their value better.
- Maintenance history — a vehicle with official workshop maintenance has a higher market value.
- Warranty — cars still under warranty period have a higher market value.
- Geographical area — in Barcelona, for example, the demand for certain models can increase their value.
Difference between market value and sale price
It is important not to confuse market value with sale price. Market value is an objective reference calculated according to depreciation tables, while the sale price is the actual price a buyer would be willing to pay for your car under current market conditions.
In practice, the sale price is usually higher than the market value, especially in models with high demand. That is why, when you sell your car to a scrapyard like Desguaces Carend, we offer a price based on both the market value and the actual value of the parts and spares that can be recovered.
Why is market value important when selling your car?
Knowing your car's market value gives you a starting position to negotiate its sale. If your vehicle has suffered a total loss, the insurance company will use the market value to calculate your compensation. But if you sell directly to a professional scrapyard, you can get a better price because we also value the usable parts.
At Desguaces Carend we offer free and personalised valuations. Contact us on WhatsApp and find out how much your car is worth.