Is this car a good deal?
No spreadsheet needed. Compare the listing's ask to what similar cars sell for nationwide — then let DealScore do the comp math and return a grade. ZIP is optional if you want a local refine.
Start with what you know
From the listing, grab the ask, miles, and the car. ZIP is optional.
- Asking price — what the seller wants today, not MSRP from five years ago.
- Mileage — odometer reading on the listed car.
- Location — optional ZIP if you want to narrow to a local market. The default score uses US national comps so a sparse ZIP does not hide inventory.
- Vehicle — year, make, model (and trim if the listing includes it), or the 17-character VIN.
We can't open a Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist URL. Paste the listing text, or type year/make/model, price, and miles. Grades use dealer-market comps. A private-party ask may grade lower than a dealer ask for the same car.
What “good deal” actually means
A good deal isn't “cheap.” It's priced below what the market expects for that exact car in that area right now. DealScore computes delta_pct = (asking - expected) / expected from live market comps and maps it to a grade — Great through Overpriced. See how the grades work.
A Great grade means the ask sits well under expected value. Fair means the ask is roughly what comps support. Overpriced means walk away or negotiate hard — the data backs it up.
Things comps can't tell you
Dealer listing comps reflect price, not condition. Still check:
- Accident history and title status (salvage, rebuilt).
- Service records and obvious wear.
- Options and trim — a base model isn't a loaded one.
- Why it's priced where it is. Sometimes there's a reason.
DealScore returns a brief and risks array with each score, but nothing replaces a pre-purchase inspection.
Score it now
Use the free form on the homepage — same engine as the API, no key required. Or POST to the API from a buyer agent.
Have a VIN? Score by VIN instead. Connecting an agent? Score a car deal with an agent. Need endpoint details? API docs.