Getting a vehicle's value right is one of the most important calls a dealer makes. Pay too much for a car, or over-value a part-exchange, and the profit is gone before you have even advertised it. Price your stock wrong and it either sits on the forecourt or sells for less than it should. Good valuations are the difference between a healthy margin and a thin one.
That is why we have built vehicle valuations directly into the Vehiso dealer management system. This guide explains what you can value, where the numbers come from, and how to read the different prices you get back.
What you can value in Vehiso
There are three ways dealers use valuations day to day, and Vehiso covers all three from the same tool.
One-off valuations
Enter a registration and mileage and get an instant valuation for any vehicle, whether or not it is on your books. This is ideal for sizing up a car at auction, checking a trade offer, or answering a customer who wants to know what their car is worth.
In-stock vehicle valuations
Value the cars already in your stock so you can keep your pricing sharp. Markets move, and a car that was priced right a month ago may now be over or under the market. Re-valuing your stock helps you spot vehicles that need a price adjustment to shift.
Part-exchange valuations
When a customer offers their car in part-exchange, you need a fast, accurate figure so you can agree a deal on the spot without giving away margin. Vehiso lets you value the part-exchange right there in the deal, so the number you offer is grounded in real market data rather than guesswork.
Where the valuations come from
Vehiso offers two sources of valuation data, so every dealer is covered.
Auto Trader valuations for Auto Trader dealers
If you are an Auto Trader customer, Vehiso can surface Auto Trader's own valuations inside your DMS. You get the retail and trade figures Auto Trader is known for, without leaving Vehiso or logging into a separate portal.
Independent valuations for everyone else
Not every dealer uses Auto Trader, and you should not need to in order to value a car. For dealers who are not on Auto Trader, Vehiso provides valuations through a trusted third-party valuation partner. You get the same range of trade and retail figures, built into the same tool, so you are never left guessing on price.
Understanding the different prices
A valuation is not a single number. Depending on what you are doing with a car - buying it, taking it in part-exchange, or retailing it - the figure that matters changes. Vehiso returns a full spread of prices so you can pick the right one for the situation. Here is an example valuation:
| Valuation type | Price |
|---|---|
| Dealer Forecourt | £20,288 |
| Trade Retail | £19,206 |
| Private Clean | £17,884 |
| Private Average | £17,573 |
| Part Exchange | £17,173 |
| Auction | £17,003 |
| Trade Average | £16,210 |
| Trade Poor | £14,506 |
Here is what each of those means in practice:
- Dealer Forecourt - the retail price you would realistically advertise the car at on your forecourt. This is your likely sale price to a retail customer.
- Trade Retail - the retail value used within the trade, typically a touch below full forecourt price.
- Private Clean - what a private seller could expect for a clean, well-presented example.
- Private Average - the private sale value for a car in average condition.
- Part Exchange - a guide to what to offer a customer for their car in part-exchange. Use this to protect your margin when doing a deal.
- Auction - the sort of money the car would make at auction, useful when you are buying or deciding whether to trade a car on.
- Trade Average - the trade value for a car in average condition, the kind of figure another dealer might pay.
- Trade Poor - the trade value for a car in poor condition, the bottom of the range.
Seeing all of these side by side is what makes valuations useful. When you buy a car, the auction and trade figures tell you the ceiling on what you should pay. When you take a part-exchange, the part-exchange figure keeps you honest. When you retail it, the forecourt figure sets your asking price. One valuation, every angle covered.
Why accurate valuations matter
- Protect your margin on part-exchanges - over-valuing a trade-in to win a deal is one of the quickest ways to lose money. A solid part-exchange figure keeps deals profitable.
- Buy at the right price - knowing the auction and trade values before you bid stops you overpaying for stock.
- Price stock to sell - the forecourt figure, checked against the live market, helps you price competitively without leaving money on the table.
- Move faster - an instant valuation in the tool means you can answer customers and agree deals on the spot rather than going away to work out a number.
How it fits with the rest of Vehiso
Because valuations live inside the DMS, they connect to everything else. Value a part-exchange and it flows into the deal and the invoice. Value an in-stock car, adjust its price, and that price updates across your website and marketplace feeds. It is all one system, so nothing needs re-entering.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an Auto Trader account to value cars in Vehiso?
No. Auto Trader customers can use Auto Trader valuations inside Vehiso, but dealers who are not on Auto Trader get valuations through our third-party valuation partner. Either way, you can value cars from within your DMS.
Can I value a car that is not in my stock?
Yes. One-off valuations let you value any vehicle by registration and mileage, which is handy at auction or when quoting a customer.
What is the difference between all the prices?
Each figure reflects a different scenario, from what you would retail the car for on your forecourt to what it would make at auction or as a part-exchange. Pick the one that matches what you are doing with the car.
Can I value customer part-exchanges?
Yes. You can value a part-exchange directly within the deal, so you can agree a fair figure with the customer straight away and keep the deal profitable.
