How we calculate

valueLOT and the wikiLOT price guide use the same formula. It's a reasoned estimate built from public data and our own price list — not live market sales.

1. 1
   Starting price

   Either what you paid (if you enter it) or the typical new price for your model from our price list, which covers 90 common models and was last reviewed Sep 2026. If your model isn't on the list, we don't guess from the brand average — we ask for what you paid.

2. 2
   Age

   Cars lose the most value in their first year and less each year after. The rate depends on body style: trucks and SUVs hold value better than sedans and coupes, and there's a floor below which a running car rarely falls.

3. 3
   Brand

   Brands with stronger resale (Toyota, Honda, Lexus, Subaru) are nudged up; weaker ones are nudged down.

4. 4
   Mileage

   Compared with about 12,000 miles a year for the car's age. More miles than that lowers the estimate; fewer raises it.

5. 5
   Condition

   Excellent nudges the estimate up; fair and needs-work bring it down.

6. 6
   Known issues

   Each problem you mark is priced as a rough repair cost, scaled by the brand's typical repair costs (RepairPal) and your state's labor rates where we have them.

7. 7
   The range

   The result is shown as a range rather than one number, because it's a formula estimate — not an appraisal and not based on recent sales.

Outside data

• NHTSA owner complaints and recalls — shown on wikiLOT model pages, refreshed Oct 26, 2026. They don't change any price.
• BLS used-car price index (September 2026) — shown as market context. It doesn't change any price.
• NHTSA vehicle database — model lists, VIN decoding, and body types.