Discover the catalogue value of your car

Calculating the value of your car can be done in different ways. There are also several terms in circulation that can sometimes cause confusion, such as new value, current value, purchase value and catalogue value. In this article we limit ourselves to the latter, the catalog value.

What is catalog value?

Simply put, the catalogue value is the value of your car when it is first put up for sale as new. Every car has a certain starting value when it goes from the factory to the showroom. That is the value you see in the advertisements: 'Now from € 12.995!'.

The catalogue value of the car is determined including all the extra options that you add, such as leather upholstery, climate control and an electric panoramic roof. The accessories that are already standard on your car, the so-called 'factory accessories', are already included in the value. So it concerns the options that you add yourself to make your car unique. Add the value of the extra options to the basic value of the car and you have the catalogue value.

What do you need the catalog value for?

There are two authorities that would like to know the catalogue value of your car: the tax authorities and the insurance company.

Belastingdienst

A new car is generally worth a lot of money. The Tax Authorities therefore see your car as part of your assets. It is therefore wise to declare your new car when you are doing your tax return.

If you have a company car, the catalogue value is the basis for the additional payment. The higher the catalogue value, the more additional payment you will pay. So it can certainly be more advantageous to have a smaller or cheaper car to drive.

Also for a rental car that is used for business, additional tax must be paid. The fiscal value of the rental car is therefore stated on every rental agreement.

Insurance company

Just like the Tax Authorities, insurance companies use the catalogue value as the basis for car insurance. Even if you buy a second-hand car that is 10 years old, the catalogue value often forms the basis for calculating the premium. And here too, the higher the catalogue value, the higher the premium.

Calculate catalog value

Or actually it should say 'calculate current value'. These are two concepts that are often used for each other. current value is the value of the car as it is now. In other words, including depreciation. To calculate the current value, you also use the catalogue value. After all, this is and remains the starting point for your car.

On the internet you will find various handy tools to calculate the current value of your car. For example, that of the ANWB. Which factors are important for the calculation?

• Make and model of the car
• Year of construction
• Fuel (a diesel engine is generally worth more than a petrol engine)
• Transmission (is it a manual or automatic car)
• Engine capacity (the more engine capacity, the higher the value of the car)
• Current mileage (fewer kilometers is better for the value than many kilometers driven)
• Are you the first or second owner? (first owner is always better for the value)
• Have you ever had damage to your car? (logically, a damage-free car has a higher value)

Know your catalog value!

As you can see, it is always good to know what the catalogue value of your car is. On the website of the RDW you can quickly see the catalogue value of your car based on your license plate.

Want to know more about calculating catalog value? Leave a comment below!