function calculateCarValuation() {
// Get input values
var carMakeModel = document.getElementById("carMakeModel").value;
var carYear = parseFloat(document.getElementById("carYear").value);
var originalMSRP = parseFloat(document.getElementById("originalMSRP").value);
var currentMileage = parseFloat(document.getElementById("currentMileage").value);
var conditionRating = document.getElementById("conditionRating").value;
var accidentHistory = document.getElementById("accidentHistory").value;
var modificationsValue = parseFloat(document.getElementById("modificationsValue").value);
var depreciationRate = parseFloat(document.getElementById("depreciationRate").value);
// Validate inputs
if (isNaN(carYear) || isNaN(originalMSRP) || isNaN(currentMileage) || isNaN(modificationsValue) || isNaN(depreciationRate) ||
carYear new Date().getFullYear() + 1 || originalMSRP <= 0 || currentMileage < 0 || depreciationRate 100) {
document.getElementById("valuationResult").innerHTML = "Please enter valid numbers for all fields.";
return;
}
var currentYear = new Date().getFullYear();
var age = currentYear – carYear;
if (age 0) {
// Deduct 1% of the current value for every 10,000 miles over expected
var deductionPercentage = (mileageDeviation / 10000) * 0.01;
mileageAdjustmentFactor = 1 – deductionPercentage;
} else if (mileageDeviation < 0) {
// Add 0.5% of the current value for every 10,000 miles under expected
var bonusPercentage = (Math.abs(mileageDeviation) / 10000) * 0.005;
mileageAdjustmentFactor = 1 + bonusPercentage;
}
// Cap mileage adjustment to prevent extreme values (max 30% deduction, max 10% bonus from mileage)
mileageAdjustmentFactor = Math.min(Math.max(mileageAdjustmentFactor, 0.70), 1.10);
var valueAfterMileage = valueAfterAgeDepreciation * mileageAdjustmentFactor;
// 4. Condition Adjustment
var conditionMultiplier = 1;
if (conditionRating === "Excellent") {
conditionMultiplier = 1.05;
} else if (conditionRating === "Good") {
conditionMultiplier = 1.00;
} else if (conditionRating === "Fair") {
conditionMultiplier = 0.90;
} else if (conditionRating === "Poor") {
conditionMultiplier = 0.75;
}
var valueAfterCondition = valueAfterMileage * conditionMultiplier;
// 5. Accident History Adjustment
var accidentMultiplier = 1;
if (accidentHistory === "Minor") {
accidentMultiplier = 0.95;
} else if (accidentHistory === "Major") {
accidentMultiplier = 0.85;
}
var valueAfterAccident = valueAfterCondition * accidentMultiplier;
// 6. Add Aftermarket Modifications Value
var finalValuation = valueAfterAccident + modificationsValue;
// Ensure final valuation is not negative
finalValuation = Math.max(finalValuation, 0);
// Display result
document.getElementById("valuationResult").innerHTML =
"Estimated Insurance Valuation for " + carMakeModel + ":" +
"$" + finalValuation.toLocaleString(undefined, { minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2 }) + "" +
"This is an estimate. Actual valuation by an insurance company may vary.";
}
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font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Geneva, Verdana, sans-serif;
background-color: #f9f9f9;
border: 1px solid #ddd;
border-radius: 8px;
padding: 25px;
max-width: 600px;
margin: 20px auto;
box-shadow: 0 4px 8px rgba(0,0,0,0.05);
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color: #333;
text-align: center;
margin-bottom: 20px;
font-size: 1.8em;
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.calc-input-group {
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.calc-input-group label {
display: block;
margin-bottom: 5px;
color: #555;
font-weight: bold;
}
.calc-input-group input[type="number"],
.calc-input-group input[type="text"],
.calc-input-group select {
width: calc(100% – 22px);
padding: 10px;
border: 1px solid #ccc;
border-radius: 4px;
font-size: 1em;
box-sizing: border-box;
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appearance: none;
-webkit-appearance: none;
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background-image: url('data:image/svg+xml;charset=US-ASCII,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%22292.4%22%20height%3D%22292.4%22%3E%3Cpath%20fill%3D%22%23000000%22%20d%3D%22M287%2C197.9l-13.9%2C13.9L146.2%2C84.5L13.9%2C211.8L0%2C197.9l146.2-146.2L287%2C197.9z%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E');
background-repeat: no-repeat;
background-position: right 10px top 50%;
background-size: 12px auto;
padding-right: 30px;
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button {
background-color: #007bff;
color: white;
padding: 12px 20px;
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border-radius: 4px;
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width: 100%;
margin-top: 20px;
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button:hover {
background-color: #0056b3;
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margin-top: 25px;
padding: 15px;
background-color: #e9f7ef;
border: 1px solid #d4edda;
border-radius: 8px;
text-align: center;
font-size: 1.1em;
color: #155724;
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.calc-result p {
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.calc-result strong {
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}
Understanding Your Car's Insurance Valuation
When your car is involved in an accident and declared a total loss, or if it's stolen, your insurance company will determine its "actual cash value" (ACV) or an "agreed value" to compensate you. This valuation is crucial, as it directly impacts the payout you receive. Our Car Insurance Valuation Calculator helps you estimate what your vehicle might be worth to an insurer, taking into account key factors.
What is Actual Cash Value (ACV)?
Actual Cash Value is the amount an insurance company determines your vehicle was worth immediately before it was damaged or stolen. It's generally calculated as the replacement cost of the vehicle minus depreciation. Depreciation accounts for factors like age, mileage, and wear and tear. Most standard auto insurance policies use ACV for total loss claims.
Factors Influencing Car Valuation for Insurance
Several elements contribute to how an insurance company values your car:
Make, Model, and Year: The fundamental identity of your vehicle. Newer, more popular models often retain value better.
Original MSRP: The Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price provides a baseline for the vehicle's initial value.
Age and Depreciation: Cars generally depreciate significantly in their first few years. This calculator uses an annual depreciation rate to reflect this.
Current Mileage: Higher mileage typically indicates more wear and tear, leading to a lower valuation. Conversely, very low mileage for its age can slightly increase value.
Condition: The overall physical and mechanical state of your car. An "Excellent" condition car will be valued higher than one in "Poor" condition.
Accident History: A history of accidents, especially major ones, can significantly reduce a car's value, even if repaired.
Aftermarket Modifications: While some modifications (like performance upgrades or custom aesthetics) can add value, not all insurance policies cover them automatically. It's important to declare these to your insurer.
Market Demand: While not directly an input in this calculator, insurance companies also consider current market trends and demand for your specific make and model.
How Our Calculator Estimates Your Car's Value
Our calculator uses a multi-step approach to provide an estimated insurance valuation:
It starts with the Original MSRP as a base.
It then applies an Annual Depreciation Rate based on the car's age, reducing the value over time.
A Mileage Adjustment is made, factoring in whether your car has more or fewer miles than expected for its age.
The Condition Rating (Excellent, Good, Fair, Poor) further adjusts the value up or down.
Any reported Accident History (Minor or Major) leads to a deduction.
Finally, the value of declared Aftermarket Modifications is added to the total.
Important Considerations
This calculator provides an estimate for informational purposes. Actual insurance valuations can vary based on:
The specific insurance company and their proprietary valuation methods.
Local market conditions and demand.
The availability of comparable vehicles.
Whether your policy is an "Actual Cash Value" or "Agreed Value" policy.
The thoroughness of the appraisal process.
Always consult with your insurance provider for an official valuation of your vehicle.