Index
What information is obtained with the number plate and what is not
The tools that allow you to value by number plate in Spain
Why the online valuator's result is not the final price
What data affects the real value beyond the number plate
How long it takes to do a reliable valuation
Dealcar: value your car for free and receive offers from dealerships
Frequently asked questions
What information is obtained with the number plate and what is not
When you enter the number plate into an online valuator, the system consults the DGT registers to extract the basic data of the vehicle: make, model, version, engine size, fuel type, gearbox type, date of first registration and, in some cases, the number of previous owners.
Read also what the latest DGT number plate tells you about the value of your car.
With that information, the valuator cross-references the vehicle with registered transactions of similar vehicles and returns an approximate value range. It is an automatic process that takes between 10 and 30 seconds and gives a useful first approximation.
What the number plate cannot tell the valuator is the actual condition of the car. The current mileage, if it has bumps or scratches, if the upholstery is worn, if maintenance is up to date or if there is any known mechanical problem. These factors can move the final price by between 10% and 30% compared to the approximate value returned by the valuator. Therefore, the result of any online valuation by number plate is always a starting reference, not a binding offer.
The tools that allow you to value by number plate in Spain
There are several services where you can enter the number plate and obtain an approximate valuation.
Car sales portals such as coches.net, Autocasión or Wallapop have integrated valuators that estimate the value of the vehicle based on the number plate and mileage. They are useful for getting a quick reference of the market price on that type of portal, but they do not reflect the price a professional buyer would pay you.
Read also the complete guide on how to value a car online for free.
Professional valuation tools like Eurotax or Ganvam are designed for dealerships and assessors. They are more precise than portal valuators because they handle more actual transaction data, but full access is not free.
The Dealcar valuator works differently: you enter the number plate and the basic data of the car and, instead of returning an estimated catalogue price, you put the vehicle in front of more than 1,000 verified professional dealerships that make real offers. The result reflects what the market is willing to pay right now for your specific car, not a theoretical estimation.
Why the online valuator's result is not the final price
The difference between the value returned by an online valuator and the price you end up receiving can be significant, and it is worth understanding why before putting a price on your car or negotiating with a buyer.
Portal valuators estimate the advertising price, not the selling price. The advertising price is what the seller asks for; the selling price is what they accept at the end of the negotiation. This difference can be 5% to 15% in many cases. If the valuator says your car is worth 12,000 euros, that might mean it is advertised at that price, but the sale is closed between 10,500 and 11,500.
Valuation tools also calculate based on a vehicle in standard condition, without defects or extras. If your car has unrepaired bumps, very worn tyres or overdue maintenance, the actual price will drop compared to the estimation. If it has relevant extras like a panoramic roof, heated seats or a premium sound system, it may go up slightly, although extras usually revalue less than the owner expects.
The geographical area also influences the price. A diesel SUV is worth more in a rural area where there are fewer driving restrictions than in a city with an active LEZ (Low Emission Zone). Generalist valuators do not always capture this local variation accurately.
See also how the LEZ affects the value of your car if you sell in Madrid.
What data affects the real value beyond the number plate
Mileage is the factor that most influences the car's value after the make, model and year. The difference in value between a car with 60,000 km and the same car with 120,000 km can be between 1,500 and 4,000 euros depending on the model. The more precise the mileage data you enter into the valuator, the more adjusted the estimation will be.
The condition of the bodywork matters. A car with no visible bumps or scratches sells faster and at a better price than one with damage, even if it is minor. Professional buyers deduct the repair cost of any visible damage from the offer they make.
The maintenance history holds weight, especially in cars with more than 80,000 km or more than 5 years. A car with a stamped service book and available maintenance invoices generates more trust and usually receives better offers than one without documentation.
Read how to negotiate the sale of your car to get the best price.
The environmental badge increasingly affects the value, especially in cities with traffic restrictions. A vehicle with an ECO or ZERO badge is worth more in urban areas than one without a badge or with a C badge, because the buyer knows they can drive without restrictions. The most up-to-date valuators already incorporate this factor into their estimations.
How long it takes to do a reliable valuation
A basic valuation by number plate takes less than a minute. You enter the number plate, mileage and the general condition of the car, and you get an approximate reference immediately.
For a more reliable valuation that reflects the actual market price, the complete process with Dealcar takes between 2 and 5 minutes: you add the car's data, upload some photos if you have them, and the system puts your vehicle in front of the network of professional buyers. The first real offers arrive on average in less than 18 hours.
This difference between an automatic estimation and a real offer from a professional buyer can be several hundred or even thousands of euros. A car that the online valuator values at 11,000 euros can receive real offers from dealerships of between 10,200 and 12,500 euros depending on the demand for that model at that moment, the specific condition of the car and the interest of each buyer.
See also which companies buy cars in Spain and how to compare them.
Dealcar: value your car for free and receive offers from dealerships
Valuing by number plate is the first step, but online valuation only tells you how much your car could be worth on paper. What really matters is how much actual buyers are willing to pay for your specific car, today, in the current market.
Dealcar puts your car in front of more than 1,000 verified professional dealerships that compete with each other with real offers. It is not a catalogue estimation: they are active buyers who want vehicles like yours and who bid to get it.
100% free for you. No commissions or hidden costs.
You get paid before handing over the keys. Bank transfer before delivering the car.
They collect the car from your home. No travel required.
No paperwork. The buyer handles the transfer, DGT, and all the paperwork.
On average, 1,400 euros more than selling on Wallapop.
More than 12,000 cars sold and an average rating of 4.9 out of 5.
Frequently asked questions
Is it reliable to value a car just with the number plate?
The number plate gives the technical data of the vehicle (model, version, year of registration), which are the starting point for any valuation. But the real value also depends on the mileage, the condition of the bodywork and the maintenance, data which the number plate does not contain. A valuation by number plate alone is approximate; for a real valuation you also need to provide this data.
Do all online valuators give the same result?
No. Each tool uses different data sources and different methodologies. Portal ad valuators tend to give higher estimations because they are based on asking prices, not closed prices. Professional valuators like Eurotax or Ganvam use more actual transaction data and are usually more conservative. The difference between one valuator and another for the same car can be between 500 and 2,000 euros.
What happens if the online valuator gives a price very different from what buyers offer me?
This is very common. Online valuators give market estimations; real buyers make specific offers based on their current demand, the actual condition of the car and what they can resell it for in their area. If the offers you receive are systematically lower than the valuator, it may be that the valuator is using outdated data or that there are factors of the car (condition, high mileage, model with low demand) that lower the actual value.
Can I use the online valuation to negotiate with a dealership?
You can use it as a starting reference, but bear in mind that dealerships are familiar with the same tools and know that online estimations are usually above the actual purchase price. A Dealcar valuation with real offers from professional buyers is a stronger argument for negotiating than an estimation from an ad portal.
