Finding out how much your car is worth is an important first step when selling it, trading it in or using it as collateral for a loan. While free online services can give you a pretty good idea of your car’s value in Canada, you might need to pay for a professional appraisal for legal reasons like securing a loan with your car.
Finding out your car’s value from a reputable Canadian website is a great way to make sure you’re getting a fair deal before you sell or trade in your car. Follow these four steps to find out how much your car is worth in Canada.
First, you’ll need to gather the following details of your vehicle:
Finder data suggests that men aged 25-34 are most likely to be researching this topic.
| Response | Male (%) | Female (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 65+ | 6.74% | 3.11% |
| 55-64 | 10.54% | 5.53% |
| 45-54 | 10.19% | 6.39% |
| 35-44 | 11.57% | 7.08% |
| 25-34 | 16.23% | 8.29% |
| 18-24 | 8.29% | 6.04% |
Each site has different standards based on your car’s condition and might give you slightly different quotes. Some of the best and most trusted sites to estimate the value of your car in Canada include:
| Website | What is it | How it works |
|---|---|---|
 Clutch | Car-selling site |
|
 Canadian Black Book | Car value estimator |
|
 Carfax | Car value estimator |
|
 AutoTrader Canada | Car-selling site |
|
 Kijiji Autos | Car-selling site |
|
How much your car is worth varies depending on how you plan to sell it. Look up the following values before you decide what to do with your car:
Typically, you need to fill out a form with information gathered about your car and where you live. Prices can vary by location. The more information you provide, the more accurate the estimate will be.
Some dealerships sell certified preowned (CPO) vehicles that have passed a detailed inspection by the manufacturer. These come with an extensive warranty covering everything except damages from regular use. Typically, these have a higher value than most used cars, thanks to the warranty, but still cost less than a new car.
Once you’ve received a few estimates from car-pricing sites, look at the current market to see how cars like yours are selling.
Take note of the number of similar cars on the market and the asking price. If there’s a high volume of cars like yours, you might not be able to negotiate a high price—it could be worth waiting until there are fewer similar vehicles on the market.
Check out some similar vehicles in the table below to see how a car’s value can compare for different model years.
Toyota Corolla | Honda Civic | Hyundai Elantra | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 model | $26,385 | $36,096 | $24,499 |
| 2022 model | $22,250 | $25, 370 | $20,249 |
| 2019 model | $14,475 | $17,629 | $15,008 |
| 2017 model | $12,975 | $13,628 | $8,566 |
| 2015 model | $11,175 | $10,215 | $6,248 |
The vehicle values shown in this table are estimates only.
Getting your car appraised might be necessary if you want to use your vehicle as collateral for a loan, it’s part of a divorce settlement or you’re in another situation where you need a legal certificate stating its value.
Appraisals can set you back anywhere from just under $100 to several hundred dollars per vehicle. But you’ll get the most accurate quote.
Typically, you need to bring in your car for an inspection, which can last anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours depending on where you go.
Yes, if you need an official certificate of value for legal reasons. You also might want to get your car appraised if you’ve made a lot of changes to the vehicle or it’s difficult to describe its condition. Rare or old cars might also benefit from an appraisal, especially if you can’t find prices online.
Many dealerships will appraise your car when you try to sell it, although you might be able to get a more unbiased opinion elsewhere. You can also get your car appraised by a professional appraiser. Typically, you can find these online through Kijiji or Carfax, by contacting a law firm or by reaching out to a real estate office.
Auction houses also sometimes appraise vehicles and can be particularly helpful if you have an antique or exotic car.
Here are a few pointers to ensure you get the most accurate appraisal:
Have an idea of what your car is worth? You have a few options:
You may have heard that a new car loses 20% of its value as soon as you drive it off the lot. But that’s not always the case, as vehicles lose value at varying rates. Pay attention to your car’s depreciation rate to get the most bang for your buck when it comes time to trade in your car.
Getting several quotes from different online sources can help you get a more accurate picture of car’s value in Canada when you want to sell it or refinance your car loan. When you need a certified estimate, however, you might have to pay for a professional appraisal. Learn more about car loans.
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