Verdict & Trust Score
0–100 with a color band and a one-sentence call. Every deduction is itemized — no black box, you see exactly why a car scores 43.
Inside every Brief
Nine sections. One verdict.
Zero jargon.
Every Brief reads in about four minutes, at an 8th-grade level, and every finding ends the same way: what it means and what to do. Here's the full anatomy.
01
02
Title & History
Salvage brands, total-loss and junk records, odometer rollback flags, title-washing patterns across state lines.
03
Listing Archaeology
Every time this VIN was listed in 6 years — dates, prices, mileage. "Acquired at auction 4 months ago" changes a negotiation.
04
Recalls & Known Issues
Open recalls by severity, plus what fails on this model at this mileage — from our 162-issue database — with typical repair costs.
05
Market Position
Fair value range, asking-vs-market delta, days on market vs. average, price-drop history, how many comps sit nearby.
06
Negotiation Battle Card
Opening, target and walk-away prices — each justified line by line — with talking points ranked by impact.
07
Negotiation Tips
Six one-liners that hold the whole thing together — say your number, then stop talking.
08
Carfax Cross-check + Checklist
What to look for on the report the seller handed you, then a guided in-person inspection: panel seams, oil cap, trunk water line, tire dates.
09
Bottom Line
Buy it, negotiate it, or walk. One paragraph, one recommendation, sharable with anyone you trust.
The part you'll actually use
Walk in knowing your numbers.
The battle card is computed from market data by a deterministic formula — mileage-adjusted fair value minus documented issues. Not vibes. Not an AI guessing prices.
BATTLE CARD · 2021 TOYOTA RAV4 XLE · ASKING $26,90061 DAYS ON LOT · 2 PRICE CUTS
Opening
$23,400
Anchors low, stays credible
Target
$25,400
Mileage-adjusted fair value
Walk away
$26,900
Past this, a better one exists
This RAV4 has been on your lot 61 days and you've cut the price twice. There are eleven like it within 50 miles. I can sign today at $23,400.
TALKING POINT №1 · LEVERAGE: DAYS-ON-MARKET + PRICE-CUT HISTORY
