CAP Average
CAP Average is the trade-valuation band for a used vehicle in honest, saleable condition with typical wear for its age — presentable enough to retail after light prep, but below the Clean benchmark.
Average is the middle band in CAP's four-tier system (Clean, Average, Below, Poor). It describes the trade price for a car that needs modest reconditioning — a cosmetic refresh, a single service item, or minor history gaps — before going on a forecourt. In practice, most part-exchanges and general trade stock settle around Average money.
What a CAP Average car looks like
- Visible but minor stonechips or paint-edge wear; no major dents.
- Service history mostly present but with one gap or a non-main-dealer stamp.
- Tyres with legal tread but not fresh; brakes not imminent.
- Interior wear consistent with mileage; all features working.
Why dealers care about the Average/Clean gap
The spread between Average and Clean typically runs £300–£1,500 depending on the segment. That spread represents the margin a dealer captures by reconditioning an Average-spec car up to Clean-ready retail standard. Getting the valuation band right at the point of appraisal is the single biggest lever in used-car buying.
Related terms
CAP Clean
CAP Clean is the trade-valuation benchmark for a used vehicle in good, ready-to-retail condition — no paint issues, full service history, the right keys and documents, and mileage in line with the age.
Part-Exchange (PX)
A part-exchange is when a customer trades their existing vehicle in against the purchase of another, with the dealer giving an allowance for the PX that reduces the amount payable on the new car.
Trade Price
Trade price is the price a vehicle changes hands at between two dealers — significantly below retail, without VAT on the margin (when sold Margin Scheme) and without retail preparation or warranty built in.
Put the terms to work
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