Fixed-Price Appraisal: Transparent Costs for Valuation Reports

In the traditional world of automotive appraisers, the fee is often based on the amount of damage or the determined market value of the vehicle. This leads to considerable uncertainty for you as a customer, since the final costs are only known after the valuation is complete. DIAVAG breaks with this practice and introduces the fixed-price appraisal as a standard. A standard valuation appraisal for cars, boats, cargo bikes, or e-scooters costs a flat auf Anfrage. For more complex assets such as electric cars or PV home storage systems that require in-depth battery diagnostics, the fixed price is auf Anfrage. This transparency is particularly important for private customers, but also for lawyers and notaries who need to calculate costs for their clients in advance.

Independence is paramount here. DIAVAG is a brand of CITO GmbH from Hamburg and operates completely autonomously. This means that neither vehicles are purchased nor insurance or repair services brokered. This strict separation of valuation and trade is the basic prerequisite for the legal usability of the appraisals. An appraiser who simultaneously has a purchase interest can never offer the neutrality required for a court-proof document. The ISO/IEC 17020 Type A certification confirms this independence at the highest international level. You therefore receive a document based on objective data and signed by a senior inspector.

While classic inspection organizations such as TÜV or DEKRA focus primarily on cars and the main inspection (HU), DIAVAG covers seven different asset classes. This is a significant advantage for customers who need to have a broad portfolio of assets valued. In addition to conventional combustion-engine cars, the offering includes specialized appraisals for electric cars, boats, construction and agricultural machinery, cargo bikes, e-scooters, and PV home storage systems. Each of these classes requires specific expertise and adapted hardware, which is carried as standard in the mobile DIAVAG case.

For boats and yachts, for example, it's not just about the visual condition but the structural integrity and operating hours of the propulsion systems. In the area of construction and agricultural machinery, such as excavators or tractors, the residual value is the focus, often needed for insurance or financing purposes. Here, the 24-hour appointment service comes into play, ensuring that operational processes are barely disrupted. Valuing a cargo bike or e-scooter may seem simple at first glance, but in the event of an insurance dispute or a commercial inventory valuation, a professional appraisal is essential. DIAVAG offers the same high standard here as for a luxury vehicle, always at the agreed fixed price of auf Anfrage in the standard category.

An appraisal is only as valuable as its acceptance by third parties. Whether in a divorce, an inheritance, or an insurance case, legal reliability is decisive. All DIAVAG appraisers work according to the guidelines of the BVSK (Federal Association of Independent Automotive Experts). This standard guarantees that the valuation methodology meets current professional requirements. In addition, DIAVAG is organized as an inspection body under ISO/IEC 17020 Type A. This is the highest level of independence an appraisal service can achieve, as it excludes any influence from third parties.

In the legal context, the JVEG (Judicial Remuneration and Compensation Act) often serves as a reference framework for the remuneration of experts in court. A fixed-price appraisal from DIAVAG provides clear guidance here. The final PDF appraisal is reviewed and signed by a senior inspector, underscoring quality assurance. For customers who need the highest level of tamper protection, DIAVAG optionally offers a notarial hash on the Polygon blockchain. This documents the condition of the asset at the time of inspection in an immutable way. However, for complex legal questions, you should always consult a qualified lawyer or notary, as DIAVAG does not provide legal advice but delivers the technical and value-related basis.

Valuing an electric car differs fundamentally from valuing a combustion-engine vehicle. The drive battery accounts for up to 50 percent of the total value. A simple readout of the fault memory, as offered by many workshops, is not sufficient to determine the actual market value. DIAVAG therefore integrates the so-called Premium Battery Test into the premium appraisal for auf Anfrage. This test provides precise data on the state of health (SoH), cell balance, actual kWh capacity, and the internal resistance of the battery. These parameters are crucial for objectively quantifying the remaining useful life and thus the value of the vehicle.

This standard applies not only to EVs such as Tesla, VW ID models, or BMW i vehicles, but also to PV home storage systems. If you are buying or selling a house with an existing photovoltaic system and storage, the condition of the storage system is a major price factor. The DIAVAG appraiser checks the performance of the storage system on site. With a view to the upcoming EU Battery Passport, which becomes mandatory from February 2027, DIAVAG is already technologically prepared today. You receive documentation that goes far beyond the superficial displays of the on-board electronics and gives you certainty when buying or selling. Such an in-depth test is often not included as standard by conventional inspection organizations or comes with high additional costs.

A key pillar of the DIAVAG model is mobility. The appraiser comes directly to the location of the asset, whether it's a private garage, the yard of a farm, or the harbor where the boat is docked. This saves you time-consuming transport trips or the use of trailers, which is a significant logistical and financial advantage, especially for unregistered vehicles or heavy construction machinery. In the regions of Hamburg, Berlin, and Munich, an appointment is usually available within 24 hours. The entire on-site inspection process usually takes less than 15 minutes, as the workflow has been optimized through specialized software and hardware.

A standardized hardware case is used, containing, among other things, OBD2 scanners, paint thickness gauges, tread depth gauges, and digital multimeters. Documentation is done via an app that enforces seamless and tamper-proof photo documentation. This efficiency allows the finished PDF appraisal to be delivered the same day. Despite the speed, quality is maintained, as every report is finalized through the four-eyes principle of a senior inspector. For you, this means: minimal disruption to your daily routine with maximum result certainty at a guaranteed fixed price.

To illustrate the advantages of a fixed-price appraisal, it's worth comparing it with classic fee structures. Many appraisal firms calculate their services based on the BVSK or DAT fee schedule, with the vehicle's value forming the basis. For a high-value vehicle, the fee can quickly exceed auf Anfrage, without the workload increasing proportionally. In addition, there are often ancillary costs for photos, writing fees, and travel expenses that make the final result confusing. DIAVAG eliminates these variables with flat rates of auf Anfrage and auf Anfrage.

This comparison shows that the fixed-price model is not only cheaper but, above all, more predictable. Especially for commercial customers such as car dealers or fleet operators who need a high number of appraisals, this calculation certainty is a decisive competitive advantage. From a volume of 50 appraisals per month, DIAVAG also offers individual terms and a direct API connection to existing dealer management systems (DMS).

There are numerous situations in which a verbal estimate is not sufficient. A classic example is the return of a leased vehicle. To fend off unjustified claims from the lessor, an independent appraisal shortly before the return is recommended. The appraiser objectively documents the condition and distinguishes between normal wear and tear and actual damage. Also in a divorce, when it comes to the equalization of accrued gains, a fixed-price appraisal is a fair instrument to determine the value of the joint fleet of vehicles or the boat, without unnecessarily driving up the cost of proceedings.

In an insurance case, for example after an act of nature or theft, the appraisal serves to determine the replacement value. Since DIAVAG operates independently of insurers, you can be sure that the determined value reflects the actual market conditions. Speed is also a factor here: the faster the appraisal is available, the faster the settlement can take place. In the case of inheritances, the appraisal helps the notary or executor to correctly quantify the estate value and prevent disputes among the heirs. In all these cases, DIAVAG provides the technical expertise, while the legal classification is carried out by your legal advisors.

DIAVAG sees itself not only as a service provider for end customers, but also as a technology partner for the industry. Independent appraisers have the option to purchase the proven hardware case, including the specialized software, for a list price of auf Anfrage. This allows smaller firms to benefit from the standardized workflows and high-quality diagnostic technology that DIAVAG uses nationwide. The software guides the user step by step through the inspection, ensures compliance with BVSK standards, and automates the creation of the report.

For large car dealerships and fleet operators, the API connection offers significant added value. Vehicle valuations can be fed directly into internal systems (DMS), which reduces manual effort and increases data quality. From a volume of 50 appraisals per month, terms are negotiated individually, while retaining the transparency of the fixed-price concept. This is particularly important for residual value tracking of leasing fleets or the rapid valuation of trade-ins in retail. Thanks to the mobile availability of the appraisers, inventories at various locations can be valued efficiently without moving the vehicles.