• An appraisal from an independent certified appraiser will help assure your vehicle is adequately insured.

• What happens if your collector vehicle is hit by someone insured with a non-collector vehicle insurance company? At best, the company will likely want to settle for only Actual Cash Value for a total loss, or get any repair work done as cheaply as possible.  An appraisal of pre-accident value from a certified independent appraiser will be invaluable in assuring proper compensation or repair.

• While its best to have a vehicle appraised before it's involved in an accident, I can also help you after an accident by providing you an appraisal or what the value of the vehicle was worth immediately before the accident.

• I am available for court testimony

        Back to top

Buying a Vehicle:  Protect yourself. Get a pre-purchase appraisal.

•       A pre-purchase appraisal could protect you against overpaying for a vehicle.  Many "Internet" vehicles I've appraised are not at all what they appeared to be in the ad content and photographs. Protect yourself. For $249 I will do a comprehensive appraisal including an extensive visual appraisal plus road test to evaluate mechanical performance (e.g. engine, transmission, steering, braking, suspension, body integrity). Click Pricing for more options and details. Click FAQs for a complete description of the appraisal process.

A pre-purchase appraisal could save you the cost of the appraisal many times over, either by avoiding a bad investment, or negotiating with the seller to reduce the price to reflect any deficiencies noted in the appraisal.

If you are considering a vehicle from an Internet auction - let me appraise it BEFORE the auction expires. I can usually perform an appraisal on short notice and call you with the preliminary report, so you can make a better educated offer or decision on whether to buy the vehicle.

An appraisal supports your asking price, reassures buyers of the vehicle's value, and discourages “low ballers.”    The appraisal is something of value you can give to your buyer that may help the buyer obtain a loan and/or insurance.  

 

        Back to top

 Auctioning your vehicle?:

An appraisal will help you determine a realistic "reserve" or "starting price."  An appraisal will also support your price and reassure potential buyers of the vehicle's value. The appraisal is something of value you can give to your buyer that may help the buyer obtain a loan and/or insurance.  

The value of your vehicles can help accurately determine your net worth for a loan or other purpose. One of my clients even used my appraisal to obtain a loan to build a garage for the vehicle!

 

        Back to top

 In 2005 IRS changed the rules. Since then, if you donates a vehicle to a charity you can only take as a tax deductible donation the actual amount the charity gets when the vehicle is sold at auction, which may be substantially less than the actual value of the vehicle.

However, if you donate the vehicle to a museum, e.g. the AACA museum, you may claim the APPRAISED value of the vehicle as a tax deductible donation when a certified appraiser completes an appraisal and Form 8283, “Noncash Charitable Contributions” and the museum issues  an IRS Form 1098-C indicating “intervening use,” as when they display a car rather than sell it. Intervening use could also apply to other charities, for example, if the charity uses the vehicle or gives it to a family needing it. I will complete the Appraiser portion of the Form 8283 at no charge.    

Back to top

When a collectible vehicle owner passes away, it will typically be up to his/her spouse or children to dispose of the vehicles and probably some automotive collectibles.

·   Appraisal of your vehicles helps prevent your estate from being “ripped off” by unethical buyers or even friends, either well intentioned or purposeful. An appraisal will set an accurate value, eliminate haggling at the time of sale, and can be used to establish loan value and insurance value for the potential buyer.

·   An appraisal will help avoid pain for your spouse or children trying to sell a car for too low or too high a price.

·   An appraisal will also help avoid family squabbles over the value of an inheritance.

• Diminished value: Diminished value is the difference between what your vehicle was worth before an accident and after the repair. Even though repairs have been made properly, the vehicle can never again be claimed to be “all original” or “never damaged in accident” and therefore is diminished in value. Likewise for repairs done poorly or not using factory parts - again the vehicle is diminished in value.

  • My fee for a diminished value appraisal is only $249 plus tolls and mileage . Please contact me for actual total cost.  To keep your total cost down, I will provide a reduced flat rate for long distances. Please phone 215.620.7434 or email onecarguy9@msn.com for an actual quote.

• Lemon Law - Are you driving a lemon? I can work with you and your attorney to provide an independent appraisal of the vehicle's diminished value.

• To terminate your lease, does your leasing agency require an appraisal of your leased vehicle's current market value? My appraisal will enable you provide the full current market value to your leasing agency.  I will provide my credentials to the agency and the documentation they require.

Back to top