Question 1

Is moValue really free to use?

Accepted Answer

Yes, completely free. You can get a full valuation across all three sale routes (private sale, part-exchange, instant buy), view your car's MOT history, see mileage analytics and a price trend, all without paying anything or creating an account. We have an optional paid premium report for drivers who want deeper AI market analysis, but that is entirely optional.

Question 2

Do I need to create an account?

Accepted Answer

No. You can run an unlimited number of valuations without signing up. An account is only useful if you want to save valuations, compare up to four cars side by side, or come back later to track price changes.

Question 3

How accurate is the valuation?

Accepted Answer

For common UK cars (hatchbacks, saloons and SUVs from the last 10 years), our estimates are typically within 5 to 8 percent of the actual sale price. Accuracy is highest when we have a recent MOT with odometer, confirmed service history, and honest condition answers. For older cars, unusual trims, or heavily modified vehicles, the range is wider because those markets are thinner.

Question 4

What data do you use to value my car?

Accepted Answer

We combine multiple sources: DVLA Vehicle Enquiry API (for official registration data), DVSA MOT History API (for every MOT test and odometer reading), UK auction hammer prices, Auto Trader completed sale data, and published instant-buy offers from services like Motorway, WeBuyAnyCar and Carwow. Our model is recalibrated monthly against fresh market data.

Question 5

Why are your valuations lower than what I paid for the car?

Accepted Answer

Cars depreciate, often by 15 to 25 percent in the first year and 8 to 15 percent each year after. Our valuations reflect today's trade and private-sale values, which are what you can realistically get for the car in today's market. They are not the same as retail forecourt prices (what a dealer lists your car at), which include their margin.

Question 6

Why are your numbers different from the big instant-buy services?

Accepted Answer

Instant-buy services like WeBuyAnyCar or Motorway need to make a margin when they resell your car. Their offers are typically 15 to 25 percent below what you could get privately. We show you what the car is genuinely worth on the private market, not just the instant-buy offer. If the difference matters, you can choose to sell privately instead.

Question 7

Does it work for all UK vehicles?

Accepted Answer

We support cars registered in the UK with a valid UK registration plate. This includes most common car types: petrol, diesel, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fully electric. We do not currently value motorbikes, vans over 3.5 tonnes, classic cars pre-1990, or imports that were never registered in the UK.

Question 8

What is an instant-buy service?

Accepted Answer

An instant-buy service is a company that buys cars directly from consumers, often completing the sale within 24 to 72 hours. Examples include Motorway, WeBuyAnyCar, Carwow Sell, Cazoo and Cinch. They offer speed and simplicity, but typically pay less than a private sale because they need to resell the car and take their margin.

Question 9

What is part-exchange and how does it work?

Accepted Answer

Part-exchange (also called px or trade-in) is when you hand your current car to a dealer as part payment for a new (or newer) car from them. The dealer deducts the agreed value from the price of your new purchase. It is convenient but generally the lowest of the three sale routes because the dealer needs to resell your car, often at auction.

Question 10

How does selling privately work?

Accepted Answer

Private sale means listing your car directly to another consumer, usually on Auto Trader, Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree or eBay Motors. You typically get the highest price (often £500 to £3,000 more than an instant buy on common cars), but it takes longer, two to six weeks, and involves some effort: writing a listing, fielding calls, arranging viewings and handling payment.

Question 11

Is my data safe?

Accepted Answer

We only use your registration plate to query public DVLA and DVSA records. We do not sell your data to anyone, ever. If you create an account, we only store your email, hashed password, and the cars you choose to save. You can delete your account at any time. See our Privacy Policy for the full details.

Question 12

Can I see my car's MOT history?

Accepted Answer

Yes. On the offers page we show the complete official MOT history for your car, every test, the result, the odometer reading, and all advisories. This data comes directly from the DVSA MOT History API. It is useful for spotting recurring faults, verifying mileage, and seeing how well the previous owners looked after the car.

Question 13

Do you share my details with car buying services?

Accepted Answer

Only if you choose to continue to one of them after seeing our comparison. Clicking through to, say, Motorway or WeBuyAnyCar takes you to their site where you complete the sale directly with them. We do not proactively share your phone number, email or address with buyers.

Question 14

What does moValue get out of it?

Accepted Answer

We have affiliate partnerships with some of the car buying services shown in our comparison. If you sell your car through one of them after finding us, they pay us a small referral fee at no extra cost to you. We do not let those partnerships tilt our valuations. If a non-partner service offers more, we still show that.

Question 15

Can I use moValue if I am looking to buy a car, not sell one?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Running another seller's registration through moValue tells you what the car is really worth, so you can spot overpriced listings and negotiate confidently. You also get the full MOT history, which is useful for checking the car's condition history before making an offer.

Question 16

Do you support electric vehicles?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Our valuation model handles EVs including Tesla, Nissan Leaf, Polestar, Kia e-Niro, Hyundai Ioniq, MG ZS EV, BYD, and most other EVs sold in the UK. EVs have different depreciation curves from petrol/diesel cars (faster in the first three years, then flattening out), and our model accounts for that.

Question 17

Why do I need to select transmission manually?

Accepted Answer

The DVLA registration database does not record whether a car is manual or automatic. It has been a long-standing gap. We ask you to confirm because transmission type affects valuation: automatics are generally worth a bit more on petrol models, and most EVs and plug-in hybrids are effectively automatic.

Question 18

How often should I check my car's value?

Accepted Answer

If you are not actively planning to sell, every 3 to 6 months is plenty. If you are getting ready to sell, check weekly in the last month, prices shift noticeably with the seasons. Spring and early summer tend to be the strongest period for used car values in the UK.

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