Car Valuation for Divorce UK: Cost, Form E and Court
You do not need a valuation to put a car on Form E for a divorce: section 2.8 asks for its gross current value if it is worth more than £500, and the form's list of documents to attach has no line for a car valuation. A written valuation earns its place when you and the other side disagree on the figure.
Need an independent figure for a divorce or separation? Start your car valuation for divorce.
Do you need a car valuation for a divorce?
Not to complete the paperwork. Form E is the financial statement each person completes when a financial remedy application goes to court, and it is confirmed by a statement of truth. Its schedule of documents to attach asks for a valuation of the matrimonial home obtained in the last six months, of any other property, of life policies and of business interests where one exists, and a pension statement. Cars are not on that list.
That means the figure for your car is your own, given on your own authority. A valuation matters when that figure is likely to be argued over: the other side has put in a number you think is far too low, the car is a classic, modified or imported, or a mediator or solicitor has asked for something independent to work from.
What goes on Form E for a car?
Cars go in section 2.8, "Details of personal belongings individually worth more than £500", and the form asks for the "gross value". Gross means before any finance is taken off. Hire purchase agreements and bank loans belong in the liabilities section (2.9) instead, so deducting the finance in both places understates your own position.
What the form does not say is whether "current value" means a trade price, a private sale price or a dealer's asking price. Our guide to choosing the right value for a car on Form E sets out the three bases and how to pick one you can defend.
How much does a car valuation for divorce cost?
The price depends on the make and model and is confirmed in writing before any work starts. Free adverts for similar cars cost nothing but show what sellers are asking, not what cars sell for. Our guide to what a car valuation for divorce costs compares the routes side by side.
Is an online or desktop valuation accepted in court?
A desktop valuation is prepared from documented evidence and photographs, without anyone attending the car. It is an independent supporting document for negotiation, mediation and financial disclosure, not expert evidence. Under rule 25.4 of the Family Procedure Rules nobody may put expert evidence before the court without its permission, and the rule applies to evidence "in any form". Read whether an online car valuation is accepted in divorce court before you attach a report to anything you file.
What a desktop valuation involves
We take the make, model, VIN, mileage, specification and condition as you declare them, supported by photographs of each side and the odometer. That evidence is checked against comparable vehicles currently on the market, and every adjustment for condition, mileage, specification or damage is written into the report so both sides can follow the working. It is not a guess from a registration plate.
It also avoids two practical problems. Access to the car can be hard if trust has broken down, and arranging an inspection adds delay and cost to a process that is usually slow enough already. Once we have everything, we return the report within 24 hours of confirmation, usually the same working day. See how long a valuation report takes and what makes a report defensible.
What it is not: a court-instructed expert report
We do not act as an expert witness, do not attend court or tribunal hearings, and do not produce reports in the format of Part 25 of the Family Procedure Rules. If a judge directs that an expert be instructed, most often a single joint expert under rule 25.11, that is a different, more formal service, and your solicitor is the right person to arrange it. For everything short of that, such as disclosure, negotiation and mediation, an independent written figure is usually what is needed.
Have the details to hand? Send the make, model, mileage and photos.
Get a price for my divorce car valuationWhat we need from you
The same details as any of our valuations: make, model, VIN, year, mileage, specification and condition, plus photos of each side and the odometer. If the car is on finance, give us the make and model as normal: the finance does not change the value, it changes what goes in the liabilities section of Form E. Motorbike or camper? See valuing a motorcycle for probate, divorce or insurance.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a car valuation to complete Form E?
No. Section 2.8 asks you for the gross current value of cars worth more than £500, and the form's schedule of documents to attach has no entry for a car valuation. A valuation helps when the figure is likely to be disputed.
Can both parties in a separation use the same valuation report?
Often yes, because the report is independent and based on the vehicle's documented condition and market value rather than either party's position. Whether both sides accept it is for them and their advisers to agree.
Do you attend court or act as an expert witness in divorce cases?
No. We do not act as an expert witness and do not attend court or tribunal hearings. Our reports are independent supporting documents, not court-instructed expert evidence.
What if the car is on finance?
Form E asks for the gross value of the car in section 2.8. The outstanding finance is a liability and goes in section 2.9, so you do not deduct it from the car's value.
Need an independent figure for a divorce?
We prepare written valuations for financial disclosure, setting out the comparables and adjustments behind the number, within 24 hours of confirming the price.
Get a price for my divorce valuationYour price is confirmed in writing before any work begins.