How to read your PaperValue report and compare offers
Published · Updated · 5 min read · PaperValue.sg
Your PaperValue report helps you compare offers using rebate calculations and market evidence. Start with the vehicle details, then read the valuation ranges and the listings behind them.
The report is a decision aid. A buyer’s final offer can differ because of inspection findings, changing prices or information that was unavailable when the report was prepared.
Check the vehicle details first
Confirm the model and variant, registration date, COE expiry, ARF, quota premium and mileage. An incorrect input can affect both the rebate calculation and which listings are comparable.
For rebate decisions, check the official OneMotoring figure for the relevant date. Registration date is a useful reference, but it does not by itself prove the applicable COE cohort near a policy cutoff. LTA rebate enquiry.
Read the three values separately
| Report item | What it helps answer | What to remember |
|---|---|---|
| Paper value | What are the estimated eligible PARF and COE rebates? | Confirm official entitlement; this is before loan settlement and disposal costs |
| Trade-in range | What might a dealer offer? | Inspection, stock demand, fees and timing can change the actual quote |
| Market range | What selling price does available market evidence support? | A range is an estimate, not a committed private buyer |
Paper value is a government-rebate calculation. Trade-in and market ranges involve estimates. Treating all three as equally certain can lead to a poor decision.
The full report currently costs $15.99. The Accuracy Guarantee explains the refund terms; it is not a promise that every dealer must buy within the range.
A worked example
Suppose a report shows the following illustrative figures:
| Value | Amount |
|---|---|
| Estimated paper value | $42,000 |
| Trade-in range | $45,000–$48,000 |
| Market range | $49,000–$52,000 |
If a dealer offers $44,000, ask what accounts for the difference from the estimated trade-in range. It could be condition, costs, weak demand or a low opening offer. Get another inspected quote before deciding.
If a showroom offers $52,000 as a trade-in, compare the replacement price and finance terms too. A generous trade-in line can be offset elsewhere in the package. See the overtrade example.
The difference between a vehicle’s sale value and paper value is often called its body premium. That includes value from continued use and market demand; it is not necessarily the same as a scrapyard’s quote for the physical body.
Check whether the comparables are useful
Look beyond the headline asking price:
- Is it the same model and variant?
- Does it have similar COE tenure and registration timing?
- Is the mileage comparable?
- Are accident history, ownership and condition materially different?
- Is the listing still available, and when was the evidence collected?
Prioritise the closest matches. Rare models or thin listing data deserve a wider margin of uncertainty.
Listings are asking prices, not verified completed transactions. There is no universal 3%–8% discount that reliably converts every listing into its eventual selling price.
Use the report in the negotiation
Selling to a dealer
Bring the relevant comparables and a competing quote. Ask for a final figure after inspection and fees.
“The comparable cars and another inspected offer suggest a higher price. What condition or cost adjustments have you made?”
The useful part is the evidence behind your request, not insisting that an estimate is binding.
Trading in
Compare the total cost of changing cars. Ask for the new-car price without trade-in and check whether the loan or insurance conditions differ.
Selling privately
Use the market range to help choose an asking price, then respond to actual enquiries. If buyers consistently reject it, review the comparables, condition and time available rather than assuming the report guarantees a sale.
Understand a PARF-cliff warning
PARF steps down across age bands. A five-percentage-point change on $50,000 net ARF is $2,500, unless a cap or another eligibility condition changes the result.
Use the warning to check the official before-and-after figures and your planned transaction date. It does not guarantee a $2,500 change in the market offer on that day. The buyer may already have allowed for the approaching step.
Read the PARF guide for the applicable cohorts and caps.
When to refresh your evidence
Check the listings again if a relevant COE result, new-car price change or new inspection finding has altered the comparison. A report reflects the evidence available when generated; it has no fixed market-validity period.
Keep the report alongside your actual offers. The more closely those offers agree after inspection, the more useful they are for deciding what you can realise now.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the paper-value figure exact?
It is a calculation based on the available inputs. OneMotoring determines the official payable rebate, including eligibility and date-specific rules.
Does a below-range offer prove the dealer is lowballing?
No. Ask for the basis and compare other offers. The vehicle or market may differ from the report’s assumptions.
Can I show the report to a buyer?
Yes. Show the relevant comparables and figures, while keeping unrelated personal information private.
What if there are few comparable cars?
Treat the range with greater caution and seek additional specialist or inspected offers.