CARFAX Canada Used Car Value Guide

Anyone who has ever bought or sold a used car has probably wondered – what’s my car really worth? This information helps sellers set a competitive asking price, and allows buyers to confidently negotiate their purchase. Every used car is unique – and their values are unique too. Just because two cars of the same year/make/model trim were made in the same factory and left the lot on the same day, the roads they travelled are not the same, and their history impacts how much they’re worth.

Below is a journey to finding the value of a vehicle using our free Value Range tool. This tool is helpful for understanding the average pricing of what similar vehicles have sold for in your area. Now, when you purchase a CARFAX Canada Vehicle History Report, you receive a free History-Based Value. This value takes the information that appears on the history report, and factors it all together to generate a unique value that is specific to the vehicle.

Learn more about History-Based Value here.

When selling a used car, you want to get the best price possible. Most used car shoppers have a budget in mind when they start their search, so pricing your car competitively (and staying within their budgets) is important to selling the car quickly and not getting bogged down in endless negotiations. Many things can affect your car’s value including previous damage, the number of kilometres it’s travelled and where it’s been registered. Consider all the factors that influence the car’s value, and find out what the average selling price is using our Value Range tool.

A list value (or asking price), is the price a seller requests for their vehicle on a listing site. A sold value is what the car actually sold for. Typically, there is a difference between list and sold price. With the price found from the Value Range, you can see the average sell price of similar vehicles in your area. Consider pairing that knowledge with a CARFAX Canada Vehicle History Report, and with it comes the History-Based Value report, a more pin-pointed value that includes information from the vehicle’s history report.

Yes. Canada is a large country with many different climates, topographies and road maintenance practices. For example, sand is used on Alberta roads in the winter to combat slippery snow and ice, whereas in Ontario (and most parts of Canada), salt is used instead. Some people have strong preferences regarding buying a car that’s been driven on salt (or sand), as these agents have different impacts on vehicles. While salt can cause corrosion, sand can cause paint and windshield chips, so neither is perfect. There are also a number of Canadians who prefer B.C. driven vehicles that haven’t been exposed to a rough winter at all, and that doesn’t take into consideration how demand for certain makes/models can vary by area because of things like industry and climate.

Learn more about location and resale value

A vehicle’s history can impact how much it’s worth, and that history may include previous damage. About 1/4 vehicles have damage history. That’s not just from accidents either, hail and flooding can cause damage that stays with the vehicle from owner to owner. The CARFAX Canada Vehicle History Report reveals this damage history and also gives you access to a History-Based Value report that factors this history, and many other important pieces of information, into the valuation of the vehicle.

Find your car’s history

When you’re buying a used car, it’s a good idea to request the service records from the seller. You want to know if the vehicle has been well-maintained. For sellers, it’s always a great idea to hold onto the service and maintenance records of any work you’ve had done on your car. These can prove to a potential buyer that your vehicle has been maintained according to recommended service intervals. If you’re a handy car person and you do the work yourself – that’s ok! Just keep your own records of what you’ve done and when, and share them with the buyer when you’re selling your used car.

Learn to properly maintain your car

Yes, the colour of a car can impact how much it’s worth. For instance, a black 4x4 may maintain its resale value over time as the colour and style are desirable for a larger market. iSeeCars published a study stating that orange and yellow cars tend to depreciate less than other colours. When selling an orange or yellow car, the study states a dealership may offer a better trade deal because there is less competition.

Get more details on the best colours to buy