How moValue Works

What data do we actually use?

Our valuations are not guesses. They are calibrated against multiple public and commercial UK data sources, and they are updated regularly as market conditions change.

• DVLA Vehicle Enquiry API. The official UK vehicle registration database. Gives us make, model, year of manufacture, fuel type, engine capacity, CO2 emissions, tax and MOT expiry status, and whether the vehicle has been written off, stolen or exported.
• DVSA MOT History API. Every MOT test the car has ever had, including the odometer reading, the result (pass or fail), and all advisories and defects recorded by the testing station.
• UK auction hammer data. Anonymised wholesale prices from BCA, Manheim and independent UK auctions, updated monthly.
• Auto Trader completed listings. We track price trajectories for each make, model, year and trim combination to understand what cars actually sell for, not what they are listed at.
• Direct instant-buy published figures. Where available, we benchmark against public Motorway, WeBuyAnyCar and Carwow offers to verify our estimates align with what buyers are actually paying.

Why three sale routes?

The right sale route depends on your priorities. If speed matters most, an instant-buy service is quickest, usually completing in 24 to 72 hours, but you will accept a lower price. If top price matters, a private sale through Auto Trader or Facebook Marketplace gets the highest figure, but typically takes two to six weeks and carries some effort and risk. Part-exchange is easiest if you are buying another car from a dealer, with the dealer margin typically costing you 15 to 25 percent below private sale.

Showing only one of these routes, the way many valuation tools do, hides the other options. That is usually not in your interest.

How accurate is our valuation?

We benchmark our valuations against real sale prices every month. For common UK models (hatchbacks, saloons and SUVs from the last 10 years), our estimates are typically within 5 to 8 percent of what the car actually sells for through each route. For older cars, rare trims, or highly modified vehicles, the variance is wider because the market is thinner and each sale is more individual.

Our estimates are most accurate when we have:

• A recent MOT with odometer reading.
• Confirmation of full service history.
• Honest answers about condition (tyres, brakes, bodywork).
• The correct transmission type (DVLA does not record this, so we need you to confirm).

Is it really free?

Yes. The core valuation, all three sale-route estimates, MOT history lookup, mileage analytics and price-trend forecasting are completely free and require no signup. We also offer an optional premium report for drivers who want a deeper AI-generated market analysis and depreciation forecast, but you never have to buy anything to get your core valuation.

We make money through optional affiliate partnerships with car buying services: if you decide to sell through one of our partners after seeing our comparison, they pay us a small referral fee, at no extra cost to you. Crucially, our valuations are not tilted in any partner's favour. We show you the real numbers and let you choose.