Mechanical damage and vehicle valuation

mechanical damage expert reports and vehicle appraisals are useful when there is a technical dispute over a breakdown, when the insurer discusses repair, or when the true value of a vehicle needs to be determined. A standalone expert report helps narrow down the cause of a mechanical problem and document its extent.

This guide brings together help articles related to this specialty.

What is included in this specialty

• Engine breakdowns: analysis of technical cause.
• Manual and automatic gearbox breakdowns.
• Damage to suspension, steering and front axle.
• Appraisals for inheritance, sale or compensation.
• Calculation of pre-loss market value and analysis of total loss.

Items available

• Engine breakdowns: origin and mechanical causes.
• Manual and automatic gearbox.
• Suspension, steering and front axle.
• Vehicle appraisal: inheritance, purchase and sale, compensation.
• Pre-loss market value, total loss and market value.

When is a report appropriate?

• When a workshop and the brand disagree about the origin of a fault.
• When the insurer considers the vehicle total loss and the owner does not agree with the assessment.
• When a vehicle needs to be valued for distribution in inheritance or divorce.
• When there is a disagreement with the seller after a sale.
• When a vehicle presents early breakdowns and the warranty is discussed.

What we prepare with you

• Complete vehicle documentation: technical sheet, MOT, maintenance.
• Repair orders, estimates and invoices.
• Communications with workshop, brand or insurer.
• Photographs of the vehicle and the elements discussed.
• History of previous breakdowns.

Report role

The expert report explains the technical cause and assesses the damage. It does not replace the legal assessment of contractual responsibility (guarantee, recovery, hidden defects), which corresponds to legal advice. Coordination with a lawyer is common when the objective is to complain to the workshop, seller or insurer.

Next steps

• Please refer to engagement process.
• Review mechanical damage specialty and appraisal.
• Contact from contact or help center.