Classic Car Appraisals Welcome to the Classic Car Appraisal page. Here at Classic Car Appraisals on Carfacts and Inspections you can get an honest appraisal for your Classic, Exotic or Vintage vehicle at Carfacts Classic Car Appraisal. You can schedule an appointment for an appraisal or a pre-purchase inspection, either way you can feel confident that you will get an honest opinion of what the vehicle is worth and if a pre-purchase you will know that every effort was made to assure you that the vehicle you are about to purchase is all it was said to be. "WE NOW OFFER A VIDEO INSPECTION FOR YOU VEHICLE". You may have found several different sites offering you an appraisal or pre-inspection, a lot of these sites have forms to fill out and for a price they will send you their appraisal or pre-inspection via e-mail "Without Even Seeing" your vehicle or the vehicle you want inspected. Let me ask you, do really think you can get an honest idea of what the vehicle is worth with this type of Appraisal or Inspection? We will go to location of vehicle and do a physical inspection of the vehicle and document it on our forms (over 100 items checked) and take as many photos as is neccesary to show you what the vehicle looks like, ""FLAWS" and "ATTRIBUTES". And if you like we can document it with a video of the vehicle also.

I have over 40 years in the Automotive field and have worked for Dealerships as an ASE Master Certified Tech., have had my own repair shop, have built and helped build/restore several Classics and Streest Rods, I have done Appraisals/Inspections for the past 12 years and in that time have recorded over 10,000 completed Inspections/Appraisals, I have also been used as an expert witness in several cases and also have done a lot of Diminished Value Inspections for companies and individuals.

Some of the companies I have either done work for directly or through a 3rd party are:

GMAC/GMPP, AIG Insurance, SAFECO Insurance, AON Warranty, GE Capital, BBB, Firemans Fund Insurance, Progressive Insurance and Off Lease, GEICO, Ford ESP, Wynn's.

Some of the Associations affiliated with now and in the past:

ASE, NADA, BBB, AAA, Carfax, Community Action, VFW, AMVETS.

Those were a few of the compaines I have had the pleasure of doing business with in the past 40 years, and will continue in the future and will add to those also on Classic Car Appraisals.

WHO NEEDS AN APPRAISAL/INSPECTION?

Owners of both modern and classic cars can benefit from a professionally-done appraisal from Classic Car Appraisals. Issues involving disputes with insurance companies, matters of probate, estate taxes, charitable donations - all these situations require the knowledge of a professional appraiser.

If you currently own and drive a classic or collectible automobile, and if there is no up-to-date, professionally-done appraisal on file with your insurance company, you will find yourself, understandably, in serious difficulty with that insurance company when it comes time (and let’s hope it never does) to make a claim for the loss of this vehicle. You can easily come up thousands of dollars short when all an insurance company has to go on is a demolished or missing automobile!

Have you carefully read the insurance policy now protecting your classic or collectible car? Is it a “Agreed Upon Value” policy from a specialty insurer, who places restrictions on your use and method of storage, and who may have charged you a very high premium?" Or is it a “Fair Market Value” policy issued by a “normal” insurer, who also writes up the everyday modern vehicle you drive?

In a “Agreed Upon Value” policy, appraisals are almost always required, and you will probably recover just about what you expected in case of a loss, presuming your claim is proven legitimate and that it meets the policy’s rules and regulations.

In a “Fair Market Value” policy, there is often a difference in opinion between insurer and insured as to the fair market value of a special automobile. A certified appraisal in this case would be a crucial factor in your favor. Without an appraisal on record, it is almost certain that you will not be satisfied with the amount offered by your insurance company, and this will require that you enter into arbitration, which is expensive, or worse yet, into a legal action.

Aside from these worst-case scenarios, which hopefully you will never experience, appraisals are also extremely useful when you are buying or selling a collector car, settling an estate or divorce agreement, or donating a vehicle to charity (in certain cases, the IRS requires an appraisal).

FOR MORE APPRAISAL INFORMATION CLICK"HERE"

Old Cars Price Guide - Grading Descriptions

2.FINE: Well-restored, or a combination of superior restoration and excellent original. Also, an extremely well-maintained original showing very minimal wear. Except for the very closest inspection, a No. 2 vehicle will take the top award in many judged shows, except when squared off against a No. 1 example in its own class. It may also be driven 800-1000 miles each year to shows, on tours, and simply for pleasure.

3.VERY GOOD: Completely operable original or "older restoration" showing wear. Also, a good amateur restoration, all presentable and serviceable inside and out. Plus, combinations of well-done restoration and good operable components, or a partially restored car with all the parts necessary to complete it and/or valuable NOS parts. This is a "20-footer." That is, from 20 feet away it may look perfect. But as we approach it, we begin to notice that the paint may be getting a little thin in spots from frequent washing and polishing. Looking inside we might detect some wear on the driver's seat, foot pedals, and carpeting. The chrome trim, while still quite presentable, may have lost the sharp mirror-like reflective quality it had when new. All systems and equipment on the car are in good operating order. In general, most of the vehicles seen at car shows are No. 3s.

4.GOOD: A drivable vehicle needing no, or only minor, work to be functional. Also, a deteriorated restoration or a very poor amateur restoration. All components may need restoration to be "excellent," but the car is mostly useable "as is." This is a driver. It may be in the process of restoration or its owner may have big plans, but even from 20 feet away, there is no doubt that it needs a lot of help.

5.RESTORABLE: Needs complete restoration of body, chassis and interior. May or may not be running, but isn't weathered, wrecked, and/or stripped to the point of being useful only for parts. This car needs everything. It may not be operable, but it is essentially all there and has only minor surface rust, if any rust at all. While presenting a real challenge to the restorer, it won't have him doing a lot of chasing for missing parts.

6.PARTS CAR: May or may not be running, but is weathered, wrecked, and/or stripped to the point of being useful primarily for parts. This is an incomplete or greatly deteriorated, perhaps rusty, vehicle that has value only as a parts donor for other restoration projects.

WHY CAN"T I JUST GO TO A LOCAL DEALER OR CAR CLUB FOR AN APPRAISAL?

You can, but here again you are risking a defeat under any type of scrutiny by an insurer, a legal entity or the government. The reasons are numerous, but the two biggest problems are (a) a car dealer or club official is not presumed to be a totally impartial party, since he/she may have an interest in the car or in a similar car they own, and (b) he/she is usually not equipped to supply the proper photos, forms and documentation that are required for a legitimate appraisal.

WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR IN A GOOD APPRAISAL?

1. The impartiality of the appraiser, i.e., that he/she not be a dealer, broker, restorer or club member.

2. A clear presentation of the appraiser’s experience and other relevant credentials.

3. The inclusion within the appraisal report of comparable cars for sale, price guide listings, current auction results, perhaps even testimonials taken from experts.

4. A comprehensive photographic documentation.

FOR MORE APPRAISAL INFORMATION CLICK"HERE"



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