What Is My Car Worth in Canberra?
It is the first question everybody asks, and the honest answer is that nobody can tell you from a table of prices. Two 2008 Corollas with the same kilometres can be worth quite different amounts depending on whether the engine turns over, whether the catalytic converter is still fitted, and what parts are in demand for that model this month. A valuation is the process of finding that out for your specific car.
Ours is free, takes a few minutes, and comes with no obligation whatsoever. You are not signing anything by asking.
What we need from you to give a number
You do not need paperwork, service records or a mechanic’s report. In most cases we can give you a firm figure from five things:
- Make, model and year — the badge on the back and the year on the compliance plate is plenty
- Whether it starts and drives — runs fine, runs badly, turns over but won’t start, or completely dead
- Roughly how many kilometres — an estimate is fine if the dash is dead
- Any obvious damage — accident damage, hail, rust, missing panels or wheels
- Where it is — the suburb, and whether it is in a driveway, a garage, a paddock or a basement
That last one is not about pricing. It tells us which truck to send.
Why we ask whether the engine turns over
This is the single question that moves the number most, and it surprises people. A car with a working engine and gearbox is worth considerably more than the same car with a seized one, because those components can be tested, resold and reused rather than shredded with the shell.
“Turns over” is not the same as “drives”. An engine that cranks and fires but has a blown head gasket still has real value. So does a good gearbox behind a dead engine. If you are not sure, tell us what happens when you turn the key and we will work it out from there.
Can a phone quote really be firm?
Mostly, yes. If what you tell us matches what the driver finds, the number does not move. We would rather quote carefully once than quote high to win the call and then renegotiate in your driveway — that is the practice that gives this industry its reputation, and it is not how we operate.
A quote changes on arrival in only a few situations, and all of them are things that were not mentioned: the engine is missing, the car has been stripped of parts, or the described “light damage” turns out to be structural. If we ever need to revise a figure, the driver will explain exactly why and you are free to say no and keep the car. There is no charge for a wasted trip.
Getting a valuation without committing to anything
A lot of people call us while they are still deciding — weighing a repair bill against scrapping it, comparing us to a trade-in figure, or working out whether a car is worth putting through another registration. That is a completely legitimate reason to call and we are happy to help.
You can take our number away and think about it. It is valid for a reasonable period, there is no deposit, and we will not chase you. If you decide to repair the car instead, that is a good outcome too.
What a valuation does not cover
We buy vehicles outright for wrecking, recycling and resale. A valuation from us is what we will pay you today, with free towing included and payment on collection. It is not an insurance valuation, not a market appraisal for a private sale, and not a written report for a legal or probate purpose.
If you need a number for one of those reasons, an independent valuer is the right call. If you want to know what your car is worth as a sale, right now, to a licensed buyer — that is exactly what we do.
