Insist On An Appraisal Before You Buy
April 19th, 2009
You have had your heart set on owning an antique car for quite some time. Your passion for automotive history runs so hot, you might not even care what make or model the car is. The perfect buy has just come to your attention and you are ready, willing and able to plunk down the cash.
Stop!
Before you dive into the purchase of a classic, any classic, make sure to get or insist upon seeing a certified appraisal. While your gut instinct might be telling you the car is the one of your dreams and money is no object, you could inadvertently be taken to the cleaners if you do not take the time to find out the true value of a vehicle.
Classic car appraisal is not quite like anything else. There are some web sites you can turn to for a good ballpark idea of what a car might be worth. These sites, however, just offer ballpark figures. If you fail to get an appraisal, you might find that dream car you thought you stole for $10,000 is only worth $6,000.
Antique car appraisers are a special breed unto themselves. They live, breathe and gravitate toward classic vehicles and they understand their real worth. The funny thing about classics is that unlike new cars, they do not necessarily depreciate. Many, in fact, appreciate in value. Just how much, though, can depend on the exact make and model in question and the following it has developed.
The classic car market is a little fickle. Some antiques are worth a small fortune and weigh in at much more than their original sticker price. Other cars just have not made the grade. While they might look good, they just are not worth a lot. An appraiser can help you sort it all out.
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