How we price cars
CarGence deal scores aren't guesses. Here's every data source we use and how we turn raw transaction data into the deal grade you see.
Data sources
Live transaction data
Updated weekly2M+ transactions/year
Verified market transactions from dealer channels across the US. This is the data dealers use to price inventory — and now you have access to it too.
Retail listing database
Updated daily4M+ active listings
Active listings from dealer and private-party platforms across the US. We normalize mileage, trim, and condition to create true apples-to-apples comparisons.
Completed sales records
Updated bi-weekly18M+ historical comps
What vehicles actually sold for — not what they were listed at. This is the foundation of our deal score algorithm.
NHTSA recall database
Updated dailyFull US database
All open and historical recalls pulled directly from NHTSA. VIN-specific recall lookups show exactly which campaigns affect a given vehicle.
OEM technical service bulletins
Updated monthly200,000+ TSBs
Technical service bulletins from manufacturers — the known issues that are too common to be recalls but still cost you money if you don't know about them.
MarketCheck API
Real-timeReal-time feed
Active listings, price history, and market velocity data used to power our inventory search and price trend charts.
How deal scores are calculated
Gather comparable transactions
We find vehicles with the same year, make, model, trim, and similar mileage sold within the past 90 days in your geographic market.
Apply condition adjustments
Known issues, reported accidents, title status, and mileage deviation from average are factored in to adjust the base comp value up or down.
Calculate Real Value
We compute the weighted median transaction price — not the inflated 'retail' price — giving you the actual market clearing price.
Score the deal
The asking price is compared to Real Value. Scores run A+ through D. Any price within 95% of Real Value qualifies as a fair deal.
Accuracy and limitations
Our Real Value estimates are within 3–5% of actual transaction prices for vehicles with sufficient market data — typically models from 2015 onward with meaningful US sales volume.
Accuracy decreases for: very rare trims, vehicles with less than 5 comparable transactions in the past 90 days, regional markets with thin inventory, heavily modified vehicles, and salvage/rebuilt title vehicles.
Always use our scores as a starting point, not a final verdict. An independent PPI from a trusted mechanic is the best $150 you'll spend on any used car purchase.