What’s Your Trade-In Worth? Here's How We Value It
Posted in Buyer Advice
What’s Your Trade-in Really Worth? Here’s How We Work Out Your Car's Value
When you're thinking of trading in or selling your car, the big question is always: what's it worth?
At Motorama, we aim to take the mystery out of vehicle valuation by showing you exactly what we look for - and how you can influence the final offer. We spoke to our experts in the Motorama Buying team to find out the in's and out's of valuing your car.
It starts with the basics
We start with the key details - make, model, year, kilometres, registration, and general condition. This gives us a clear starting point for where your car sits in the market.
From there, we use professional valuation tools that pull together data from places you'd know - like Carsales, Facebook Marketplace, and dealer listings. The tools help us analyse what similar cars are actually selling for right now, so your offer reflects real market value, not just asking prices.
The appraisal: What we check (and why it matters)
Our team conducts a full appraisal to get a detailed view of your vehicle. Here's what makes a difference:
1. Logbooks and service history
A complete, up-to-date service record is one of the strongest signals that a car has been looked after. It reassures us and future buyers that the vehicle has been regularly maintained.
Full logbook history also means the car could qualify for Motorama's Lifetime Engine Guarantee and capped price servicing for life - benefits that boost its appeal and value to the next owner.
As a guide, if your vehicle is valued around $25,000 or more, missing or partial logbooks can lower the offer by 6% to 10%. If you've missed or delayed a service, don't stress. We assess this case by case - one missed service might have only a small impact, depending on the vehicle and its overall condition.
2. Keys and other original equipment
If you have both original keys, your car is instantly more attractive. Replacing a key can cost hundreds, so having both shows it's been well-kept and reduces our costs.
We also look for original parts the car was built with, like headrests or 3rd row seats. These aren't just nice extras - they're needed for roadworthy compliance. If they're missing, we'll ask if you've got them at home, but replacing them adds cost, which is factored into the final value.
3. Tyres, windscreen and panel condition
We check your tyres, body panels, windscreen, and other essential components to see what it would cost to bring the car up to retail standard.
Bald tyres, cracks, dents, or damage add to our reconditioning costs - and that affects the offer.
4. How the car drives
We take the vehicle for a short drive to check for any issues with engine performance, brakes, suspension, and general handling.
Mechanical problems usually affect value more than minor cosmetic flaws.
5. Extras and accessories
Useful accessories like roof racks, tow bars, or upgraded infotainment systems can bump up your offer.
But we'll also weigh whether those extras will appeal to future buyers.
What doesn't matter as much as you think
Some sellers get hung up on things that have minimal impact on value:
We're focused on condition, safety, and retail appeal - not perfection.
How you can get a better offer
Here's how to help us help you:
Setting a fair price
Our team combines their experience with data from current sales listings, recent sold prices, and your car's specific details. This gives you a realistic offer that reflects both your vehicle's value and its potential in the local market.
We're not trying to lowball anyone - we want quality vehicles we can confidently resell. If your car fits the bill, we'll make a strong offer.
What's next?
Understanding how your car is valued puts you in a stronger position. The more prepared you are, the better your outcome.
Ready to see what your car might be worth? Check out our instant online valuation tool below to get a price estimate in three easy steps.
