Question 1

What is Bracken Value?

Accepted Answer

Bracken Value is an automated valuation model (AVM) for damaged and written-off vehicles. It produces instant, evidence-led valuations with the reasoning shown in full, built for dealers, dismantlers, recyclers and trade buyers.

Question 2

How does the valuation work?

Accepted Answer

Enter the registration and the model decodes the vehicle identity. Add the mileage, pre-loss condition grade, write-off category, primary damage area, nature of loss and postcode. The engine then compares the vehicle against relevant market evidence, applies adjustments for condition, damage, location and loss type, and returns a central estimate with a range, confidence level, comparable evidence and limitations.

Question 3

How instant is it?

Accepted Answer

The valuation runs as soon as you submit the vehicle and condition details. There is no waiting for a surveyor or manual review. You receive the result immediately on screen.

Question 4

How accurate is the valuation?

Accepted Answer

The model is condition-aware and evidence-led, never a pre-accident retail guess. Each result includes a confidence level (low, medium or high) based on the number and quality of comparable transactions, and the limitations are stated openly. Accuracy improves as more transaction data is connected to the engine.

Question 5

How much does it cost?

Accepted Answer

Bracken Value is priced for everyday trade use: automated, so there is no surveyor fee and no per-case manual charge. Trade account pricing is confirmed when you get in touch.

Question 6

Are Cat S and Cat N price bands?

Accepted Answer

No. They describe recorded structural or non-structural damage under UK practice. They do not determine severity, roadworthiness, repair cost or value on their own.

Question 7

What about Cat A and Cat B vehicles?

Accepted Answer

They are treated only as dismantling or recycling cases. Bracken Value never presents Cat A or Cat B vehicles as repairable road vehicles.

Question 8

Where can I read the method in detail?

Accepted Answer

The how-it-works page sets out comparable selection, the order adjustments are applied in, how confidence is derived and the structural flaws in damaged-vehicle pricing the method is designed around. The evidence page sets out the price-evidence hierarchy, the metadata every observation must carry and where price data normally breaks. The markets page covers UK write-off practice in depth and why a single pan-European model does not work.

Question 9

What evidence does the model use?

Accepted Answer

The engine draws on completed damaged-vehicle transaction data filtered by make, model, year, write-off category and damage area. Asking prices, bids, reserves and completed sales are kept separately labelled. The model does not invent a value from form inputs alone.

Question 10

Is Bracken Value affiliated with an auction platform?

Accepted Answer

No. Bracken Value is not affiliated with, endorsed by or an official data partner of any auction house, salvage platform, insurer or valuation provider. We name no third-party businesses on this site.

Question 11

Which markets do you cover?

Accepted Answer

Bracken Value covers multiple markets, with each handled separately rather than averaged into a single pan-European model. The United Kingdom and Germany are primary markets; Ireland, France, the Netherlands and Poland are expanding.

Clear answers, no false precision.