"Excellent" condition means that the vehicle looks great, is in excellent
mechanical condition and needs no reconditioning. It should pass a smog
inspection. The engine compartment should be clean, with no fluid leaks. The
paint is glossy and the body and interior are free of any wear or visible
defects. There is no rust. The tires are the proper size and match and are new
or nearly new. A clean title history is assumed. This is an exceptional
vehicle.
"Good" condition means that the vehicle is free of any major defects. The
paint, body and interior have only minor (if any) blemishes, and there are no
major mechanical problems. In states where rust is a problem, this should be
very minimal, and a deduction should be made to correct it. The tires match and
have substantial tread wear left. A clean title history is assumed. A "good"
vehicle will need some reconditioning to be sold at retail; however major
reconditioning should be deducted from the value. Most recent model cars owned
by consumers fall into this category.
"Fair" condition means that the vehicle probably has some mechanical or
cosmetic defects, but is still in safe running condition. The paint, body
and/or interior need work to be performed by a professional in order to be
sold. The tires need to be replaced. There may be some repairable rust damage.
The value of cars in this category may vary widely. A clean title history is
assumed. Even after significant reconditioning this vehicle may not qualify for
the Blue Book Suggested Retail value.
“Poor” condition means that the vehicle has severe mechanical and/or cosmetic
defects and may be in questionable running condition. The vehicle may have
problems that cannot be readily fixed such as a damaged frame or a
rusted-through body. A vehicle with a branded title (salvage, flood, etc.) or
unsubstantiated mileage should be considered “poor” because of potential
problems and should be independently appraised to determine its value.
|