What is a car's market value?
Market value (valor venal) is the official value assigned to a vehicle according to depreciation tables published by the BOE. It is mainly used by insurers to calculate compensation in the event of a total loss, and also as a reference in sale and official valuation processes.
This value is calculated by applying annual depreciation coefficients to the new vehicle price, without considering factors such as model demand, condition or additional equipment. It is objective and standardised, but it does not always reflect the real price a buyer would pay for the car.
What is a car's sale price?
The sale price is the real price a buyer is willing to pay for a car under current market conditions. This value considers factors that official market value does not:
- Supply and demand — if many buyers are interested in a specific model, the price rises.
- Actual vehicle condition — a well-maintained, low-mileage car is worth more.
- Equipment and extras — navigation, sunroof, leather seats, etc.
- Geographical area — in Barcelona, for example, small city cars are more in demand than in rural areas.
Main differences between market value and sale price
The key differences are:
- Market value: set by BOE tables, based on linear depreciation, does not consider demand or actual condition, used by insurers.
- Sale price: set by the market, based on real supply and demand, considers the car's condition, used in buying and selling.
In practice, the sale price is usually 20% to 40% higher than the market value, especially in models with high spare-part demand. That is why, if your car has suffered a claim, it is important to know both values before accepting the insurer's offer.
What value is used when selling a car to a scrapyard?
At Desguaces Carend we use both market value and sale price to offer you the best possible price. We rely on the Ganbam value, which reflects real market sale value, and complement it with the valuation of usable parts and spares.
The result is that we offer competitive prices that usually exceed an insurer's valuation. Request your free valuation and see for yourself.