BOGDAN ĩÓŁTOWSKI
University of Technology and Life Sciences
Summary
The paper covers issues related to the description and practical application of expert systems to evaluate the value of vehicles and a case study with the use of INFO-EKSPERT PLUS software as an example.
Keywords: vehicle base value, vehicle market value, vehicle value adjustments 1. Introduction
The practice of vehicle operation provides many examples of the necessity of value estimation of a vehicle in use.
The estimation is essential upon vehicle purchase/sales to the settlement of vehicle damage when a person participates in a road incident. However, one shall note that the estimation of vehicle market value referring to the costs of its repair is one of the key elements of making a decision whether vehicle repair is at all cost-effective.
It is not enough to base exclusively on the data from Internet auctions and set vehicle prices without a profound analysis of components affecting vehicle value adjustment and without a reference to vehicle base value or vehicle base model determined on the basis of professional sources and information channels.
Thus, the problem of reliable estimation of vehicle value, considering the current amount of information, brands, models and versions of vehicle equipment, requires the application of com-puter expert systems used in certified vehicle expertise.
2. Second – hand vehicle value estimation systems
Currently, there are two systems estimating vehicle value offered by Eurotax Glass’s and INFO-EKSPERT.
Both systems are based on the data collected and verified according to internal procedures and complicated algorithms of calculations used by the systems [1,2].
3. CARWERT vehicle value estimation systems – provided by EUROTAX GLASS’S
CARWERT estimation provides data indispensable to evaluate passenger cars, off-road vehi-cles, lorries, light vans, motorcyvehi-cles, trailers and semi-trailers [1]:
The source of data is offered by the biggest Internet portals, motor-world newspapers, second-hand vehicle sales networks functioning around importers, monitoring the biggest auto jumbles, leasing companies selling second-hand vehicles when a contract expires, verified by a group of consultants at monthly meetings of vehicle trading representatives of (dealers, independent auto dealerships – used cars, representatives of importers);
Model Vehicle is in adequate technical condition and does not require repairs; the vehicle is in operation, registered in May of a given year, its tyres show wear and tear of about 50%;
The identification of passenger cars and off-road vehicles is made according to their brand, model, type, version, equipment, engine type, capacity and power, gear-box type and body type;
The identification of light vans is made according to their brand, model, type, engine capacity and power, maximum authorized total mass, wheel plan and the number of seats, vehicle type depending on the built-up as below;
e) The identification of lorries is similar to the one of light vans, but – additionally – according to the axis configuration, type of cabin and type of built-up, as given in the diagram below;
f) The identification of motorcycles also additionally considers trade name and the kind of bicycle (autocycle, scooter, road motorcycle, sports motorcycle, cross / enduro and hopper / cruiser);
g) When identifying a semi-trailer or a tanker, vehicle brand is not essential, but its type is – a platform, a van truck, a cold store, a tanker or a concrete-mixer.
3.1. Vehicle value estimation algorithm with CARWERT 1. A new value estimation starts with clicking the NEW button;
3. Entering the date of vehicle’s first registration and mileage modifies its value;
4. Equipment window makes it possible to verify vehicle equipment series and add options, if any;
5. The window Factors Increasing Value makes it possible to enter all the elements having a positive effect on vehicle value;
6. Making additional adjustments is possible in the Adjustments window;
7. Factors decreasing vehicle value can also be entered;
8. The final value window (final value) makes it possible to enter the final vehicle value under evaluation;
9. The system makes it possible to calculate net, gross, purchase, and sales value, including the value of gas systems, depending on the installation date, as well as to verify technical data of a vehicle, and to export an electronic and printed estimation, see below;
4. Vehicle value estimation system with info expert plus software
Info Expert version PLUS makes it possible to e.g. make an accurate, homogenous and pro-fessional estimation of a selected vehicle and print it. During the estimation, a user can enter adjustments of the base value concerning e.g. vehicle upkeep condition, the number of users so far, etc., as well as enter three adjustments defined by the user himself.
In order to determine the most accurate value of the vehicle, it is also possible to modify stan-dard and additional equipment to be as close to the real condition of a specific vehicle as possible. Similarly, tyres are edited; one can also provide the degree of tyre wear and tear or enter non-standard tyres, which will also affect vehicle value.
The final effect of the estimation is its print-out. It involves a few parts which correspond to respective stages of estimation. The print-out provides vehicle identification data, its market value, equipment, as well as names and value of all the adjustments entered.
One can also attach photograph documentation files to the estimation in jpg or gif format. Ve-hicle estimation module includes e.g. [2]:
a) Data of passenger cars, off-road vehicles, light vans, lorries, buses, trailers, semi-trailers, agricultural tractors, trailers and motor homes;
b) Values of new and second-hand vehicles;
c) A list of standard and additional equipment according to manufacturer equipment for the domestic market with a print-out including options;
d) An extended list of technical data;
e) Archive data – records from January 1996;
f) Vehicle search according to the brand, year of manufacture, capacity;
g) A possibility of value estimation of a vehicle found in the database and value estimation of a vehicle not found in the database;
i) A possibility of entering adjustments regarding the first registration, mileage/operation time (agricultural tractors), earlier repairs, number of owners, validity of technical examinations, private import, condition of upkeep and taking care of the vehicle, inadequate vehicle servic-ing, special character of use, regional market situation, necessary vehicle repairs, additional and missing equipment, as well as tyres with an access to tyre price database;
j) A possibility of introducing additional adjustments defined by the user. 4.1. Vehicle value estimation algorithm with INFOPLUS software
1. Value estimation starts by clicking the New estimation button. Then on the screen one can see vehicle databases, kinds of vehicles to be evaluated, and a possibility of selecting a vehicle on the bottom menu bar according to the brand, year of manufacture, INFOEKSPERT number, as well as the data window button;
2. Having selected vehicle brand, vehicle model, a selection of its version and year of manufacture has to be made. The lower menu bar is provided with options which make it possible to e.g. verify technical data of the vehicle evaluated, its standard equipment, as well as with the button of the right estimation (see item 3 below);
3. Confirming vehicle selection automatically enables the Vehicle Identification Data window. The window makes it possible to set the parameters used in further calculations and with the D button (Further) one can go to the window with administration data, in which value estimation number, value estimation performer and the client’s and insurance data can be entered:
d) The first registration date at home and abroad, if any; e) Vehicle mileage;
4. Having moved to Vehicle Equipment window, one can make some adjustments and edit vehicle equipment:
a) Missing equipment in the vehicle;
b) Enter other equipment as standard or additional from the general list; c) It is possible to edit the items of standard and additional equipment;
d) There is a possibility in a new tab to introduce standard or additional equipment by the sys-tem user;
e) Having selected the element of equipment and editing it, it is possible to consider, e.g. the date of its installation in the vehicle, if it differs from its manufacture year (when included in vehicle value of e.g. gas system, as below).
5. Having clicked K (Adjustments), the system opens selection windows of adjustments increas-ing or decreasincreas-ing the value of the car under estimation;
a) Each adjustment can call for its explanation by clicking the E symbol, and an adequate entry from Expert Instructions appears [5];
b) If the data entered into the system is complete, the system automatically predicts the calcula-tion of selected adjustments in line with the algorithms hidden in the software according to the Instructions.
6. The tab with the tyre symbol makes it possible to calculate tyre adjustment by using software database and the height of the measured wheel tyre track of the vehicle estimated according to the measurement in reality;
7. Using the program with no need to visualize the ready-made estimation or its print-out, one can use the control sheet by clicking on the icon; it includes basic information vehicle value and adjustments;
8. The program makes it possible to print out the estimation in a few variants and save it in an electronic form.
5. Example of Nissan Primera estimation with the use of INFOEKSPERT Order data
Nissan Primera participated in a road collision which involved crashing into a foregoing vehicle and then another crash into the rear of the vehicle by another vehicle. The case files included e.g. vehicle registration certificate and damage description made by an insurance company representa-tive. The record shows that the vehicle had been repaired before without compliance with techno-logical requirements [4]. Then, prior to the vehicle value estimation based on vehicle VIN number, the following technical data of the vehicle were determined:
Make Nissan
Model Primera 1.8 MR’02 Version Acenta
Registration no CX XXXX Vehicle type passenger car Body type estate car 5d No of seats 5
Year of manufacture 2003 First registration date 30.09.2003
Date of the first registration in Poland 14.11.06 Body no SJNTBAP12U0129470 Engine marking QD18DE
Engine type: spark ignition engine Capacity 1769cm³
Power 85kW (injection) Odometer display 30158km (read) Colour no data (metallic paint)
1. Value estimation page one
Notes:
g) Page one includes all the vehicle identification data used in the program to evaluate vehicle value;
h) In the print-out option entered, page one lists standard equipment of the vehicle, considering the date of origin of the equipment in the vehicle under estimation, as well as additional equipment described in short;
i) The print-out also considers tyre data, including the height of the track measured and calcu-lated on the basis of tyre wear and tear;
2. Value estimation page two
Notes:
j) Page two presents the vehicle base value, namely month and year, market value of the base vehicle of the said brand, type, model and year of manufacture and introduction into opera-tion (registered for the first time upon purchase as new) on May 15 of the year of manufac-ture [5];
k) The page covers adjustments of the date of the first registration, equipment, tyres and adjust-ments defined by the system user;
3. Estimation page three
Notes:
l) In the print-out option entered, besides the vehicle identification data, vehicle base values are presented in respective years of manufacture;
m) Additional equipment also covers information on its depreciation and percentage share in vehicle value;
n) Adjustments defined by the user also include information on the percentage share in vehicle value;
i) The market value of the vehicle under estimation resulting from the data of the ordering party is PLN 37,000.00.
The commentary to adjustments of vehicle value resulting from Expert Instructions is as fol-lows[5].
There were no adjustments of:
• Vehicle mileage since, compliant with the said Instructions for the vehicles whose mileage is not sufficiently documented, e.g. from private import, positive adjustments should not be ap-plied;
• The condition and taking care of the vehicle, a special character of operation, vehicle servic-ing due to no data available;
• Short validity of traffic admission since the files do not show that vehicle repairs are neces-sary for the required efficiency to be attained.
Adjustments were applied, on the other hand, to:
• The first registration date since positive adjustment is applied to vehicles registered after May of the year of manufacture;
• Additional vehicle equipment since it increases vehicle value in reference to its base value; • Earlier repairs since the examination report of the vehicle shows that the vehicle rear was
earlier repaired, visible traces of welded-in rear belt, rear left wing filled, lamp latches glued, front bumper filled (since it is not possible to make vehicle examination, the estimated ad-justment of relatively low value was made – of 2%, as compared to the maximum of -15%); • The number of owners and private import of the vehicle compliant with the instructions
above and the wear and tear of tyres: from the estimation made by the insurance company one shall conclude that the height of the tyre track was measured in Nissan, and on this basis the wear and tear of the front axle wheel tyres was determined as 52% and rear as 65%. 6. Conclusions
1. The comparison of both systems shows INFOEKSPERT offers a slightly greater selection of kinds of vehicles and a possibility of entering adjustments of tyres based on the measured height of track, as well as close integration with SRTS and RD Instructions to determine the value of vehicles (Association of Vehicle Technology and Road Traffic Experts), whereas CARWERT gives a possibility of a more efficient identification of motorcycles and lor-ries/light vans and the estimation of costs of special built-ups, which is specially applicable in relation to their very high variation in the earlier prepared vehicle chassis;
2. Computer systems offered by Eurotax Glass’s and INFOEKSPERT enable quick and precise vehicle estimation which is not questioned at a later stage of damage liquidation in the vehi-cle, including the so-called salvage;
3. Reliable vehicle value estimation is one of the key factors to show whether vehicle repair is cost-effective in reference to its market value and, as a result, to take further actions to liqui-date the vehicle – cancelling from further operation.
Bibliography
1. Instrukcja wyceny według EurotaxGlass’s. Warszawa 2005.
2. Program INFOEKSPERT PLUS, Materiały informacyjne Info-Ekspert, www.info-ekspert.pl, 2010.
3. Program CARWERT WYCENA, Materiały informacyjne EurotaxGlass’s, www.eurotax.pl, 2010.
4. Own developments – partially used data of the expert opinion developed based on the Deci-sion of the Regional Court in Torun of 26.01.2010 on assuming the expert witness in the case of determining e.g. the value of Nissan Primera.
5. Instrukcja OkreĞlania WartoĞci pojazdów numer 1/2005, Stowarzyszenie Rzeczoznawców Techniki Samochodowej i Ruchu Drogowego. Warszawa 2004.
SZACOWANIE WARTOĝCI RYNKOWEJ POJAZDU Streszczenie
W pracy przedstawiono zasady podejmowania decyzji w praktycznych zdarze-niach zmian powypadkowych stanu pojazdów opracowywanych przy wykorzystaniu programu INFO-EKSPERT PLUS. Ustalenie wartoĞci pojazdu po zdarzeniu drogo-wym nie jest łatwe. WartoĞci napraw powypadkowych szacowane w obowiązujących procedurach prawnych nie zabezpieczają koniecznoĞci wycofania pojazdu z ruchu. CzĊsto pojazdy stanowiące stratĊ zupełną po naprawie wracają do ruchu drogowe-go. W tej pracy omówiono wiele przesłanek zapobiegania takim sytuacjom, co nie zawsze zgodne jest z obowiązującym prawem.
Słowa kluczowe: wartoĞü pojazdu, wartoĞü rynkowa, bezpieczeĔstwo ruchu, zdarzenia drogowe, naprawy
* This paper is a part of WND-POIG.01.03.01-00-212/09 project. Piotr Aleksandrowicz
Bogdan ĩółtowski
University of Technology and Life Sciences Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
