How Carsy Deal Ratings actually work
What goes into the Great-Deal-to-Overpriced label on every listing, and how to use it.
June 10, 2026
Every car on Carsy shows a Deal Rating — Great, Good, Fair, High, or Overpriced. It is not an opinion. It compares the asking price to an Instant Market Value (IMV) we estimate for that exact year, make, model, trim, mileage, and region.
IMV is built from recent sales and live listings of comparable cars. When a price sits well below that value, it earns a Great Deal; when it sits well above, it reads as Overpriced. The gauge on each listing shows where the price lands and the dollar difference.
Use it as a starting point, not the whole story. A Fair Price on a rare trim in great condition can still be the right car. But if two similar cars are listed and one is a Great Deal, you now know which conversation to have first.