> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/docs/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Generate a vehicle valuation report > Download an insurer-style valuation PDF for a stored car, and read the Valuation and Safety Recalls blocks on the car record. Each car record can show a **Valuation** summary and a **Safety Recalls** block, and staff can download a **Valuation report** PDF from the car page. The report pulls together the estimated value, comparable sales, the vehicle's specifications and reported equipment, odometer history, condition findings from the latest walkthrough, and open NHTSA recalls, in one branded document. ## What you will accomplish You will read the Valuation block on a car, understand where the number comes from, and download the valuation PDF to share with a customer, an insurer, or a buyer. **Expected outcome:** A PDF named `valuation-report----.pdf` downloads, with your facility's logo and the owner's details on page one. ## When to use the valuation report * A customer asks what their stored car is worth before renewing insurance. * An insurer or adjuster requests documentation after a loss. * You are preparing a consignment or sale and want a shareable summary. * A customer wants proof of condition and mileage at a point in time. > [!NOTE] > > **Not a certified appraisal** > > The estimated value is the trailing average of the most recent comparable sales in the car's linked Classic.com market. No condition, mileage, or equipment dollar adjustments are applied. Title history and accident records are not included. ## Before you start * The car has a correct **year**, **make**, **model**, and **VIN**. The VIN decode supplies the specifications and equipment pages. * For a market estimate, the car's **Market Data** block is linked to the right Classic.com market. See [Review Classic.com market data on a vehicle](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/docs/cars/review-classic-com-market-data-on-a-vehicle.md). * Or, set a **Declared Value** on the car. A declared value always replaces the market estimate as the headline number. * A completed walkthrough with photos gives the report its condition findings. ## Step 1: Read the Valuation block **1. Open the car record** Go to [Cars](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/cars) and click **View** on the vehicle. **2. Scroll to Valuation** Inside **Vehicle Details**, find the **Valuation** heading. **Expected result:** You see the headline value with a badge showing whether it is **Facility set** (declared value) or from **Classic.com** (market estimate), followed by the base value, lowest, average, and highest sale. **3. Check comparables and condition** The **Comparable sales** card lists the newest sales with each car's mileage relative to this vehicle. The **Condition** card summarizes the latest walkthrough: when it happened, who did it, and any locations with damage noted. **Why this matters:** This is the same data the PDF uses, so what you see here is what the customer will receive. **4. Expand reported equipment** Click the equipment count to list what the manufacturer's VIN record reports as standard or optional (safety systems, driver assistance, lighting). Packages, audio, and seating options are not part of the VIN record. ## Step 2: Download the PDF **1. Click Download valuation report** Use the button in the **Valuation** block, or open the **Download PDF** menu over the car photo and choose **Valuation report**. **Expected result:** The button shows progress while the report generates, then the PDF downloads automatically. **2. Review the pages** Page one carries the value, the owner and facility details, and the vehicle identity. Later pages cover specifications, equipment, odometer history, condition with damage photos, comparable sales, recalls, and a methodology page listing every data source with its date. > [!TIP] > > Generating a report calls the data providers first, so the PDF carries the latest data available: the Classic.com market snapshot is refetched (at most once every 24 hours, the same limit as the Refresh button), the VIN decode is re-checked when it is older than 30 days, the paid VIN metadata lookup is tried at most once every 30 days, and NHTSA recalls are refetched. The button shows each step while it works. A report generated in the last 24 hours is downloaded again instead of making a new one; choose **Refresh data** in the message that appears to generate a fresh one. The methodology page lists, for each source, when it was retrieved and how far its data runs. ## Step 3: Check safety recalls The **Safety Recalls** block lists recalls that NHTSA has published for the car's model year, make, and model. Expand a recall to read the risk and the remedy. Click **Refresh** to re-check NHTSA. > [!WARNING] > > Recalls are published per model, not per VIN, so a listed recall may already have been repaired on this car. Confirm open recalls with a dealer using the VIN. ## Turn the blocks on or off Managers can show or hide **Valuation summary** and **NHTSA safety recalls** for the facility car page and the customer portal separately, and can switch recall lookups off entirely, in **Settings → Car detail page**. Facilities that previously customized the Vehicle Details layout need to enable the two new blocks there. ## Troubleshooting * **The headline says "Not available".** Link a Classic.com market with completed sales, or set a declared value on the car. * **No specifications or equipment.** The VIN has not been decoded. Open the car and run the VIN lookup. * **Condition is empty.** Complete a walkthrough with photos; the report uses the most recent completed one. * **Recalls unavailable.** NHTSA could not be reached; try **Refresh** later. Cached results are kept for a week. This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.