Vehicle Appraiser
Comparable-backed collateral valuations with LTV analysis — defensible for origination, revaluation, and loss mitigation
Purpose
Every auto loan is backed by a depreciating asset. When a lender originates a loan at 105% LTV because the valuation was anchored to a stale book value, or fails to catch a portfolio unit that has gone underwater during a market correction, the downstream exposure compounds quietly until it surfaces as a deficiency balance or repossession loss. Collateral valuation is not an administrative step — it is the first line of underwriting defense.
Vehicle Appraiser for lenders builds a three-source collateral valuation — algorithmic prediction, active comparable range, and sold transaction evidence — with every comparable cited by VIN, price, mileage, dealer, and distance. When a loan amount is provided, it calculates real-time LTV against retail and wholesale values, projects when the LTV will reach the warning and high-risk thresholds at current depreciation rates, and estimates recovery exposure in a repo scenario. The output is a collateral valuation report that supports both origination decisions and portfolio risk management.
How It Works
Execution flow. MCP tool calls are shown inline on each step.
Reads marketcheck-profile.md for ZIP, radius, country, portfolio_focus, risk_ltv_threshold, and high_risk_ltv_threshold. LTV thresholds default to 100% (warning) and 120% (high risk) if not set. US = full toolset; UK = active listings only.
decode_vin_neovinCalls decode_vin_neovin to lock exact year, make, model, trim, body type, drivetrain, engine, transmission, and MSRP. Assumed trims in loan files are a known risk — the decode confirms the actual collateral.
predict_price_with_comparablesCalls predict_price_with_comparables with VIN, odometer, ZIP, and dealer_type=franchise for the retail collateral value. Franchise pricing is the appropriate anchor for lending — it represents the highest recoverable value from a standard retail channel.
↔ Parallel Execution
search_active_carsCalls search_active_cars with YMMT, ZIP, radius (from profile, min 75mi), and mileage band ±15K of odometer reading. Returns 20 listings with VIN, price, miles, dealer, distance, and DOM — establishes the current market price ceiling and floor.
search_past_90_daysParallel call to search_past_90_days with the same YMMT and location filters. Sold transaction data is the most defensible evidence in a collateral dispute — it reflects actual buyer behavior, not asking prices.
Combines the algorithmic prediction, active comp range, and sold transaction range into a collateral value band (low / mid / high). Condition adjustment applied. Collateral midpoint used as the primary LTV denominator.
If loan amount is provided: LTV = loan / collateral_midpoint × 100. Flags UNDERWATER if LTV > risk_ltv_threshold. Flags HIGH RISK if LTV > high_risk_ltv_threshold. Projects the forward months until LTV reaches each threshold at current segment depreciation rate. Recovery estimate = wholesale value minus remarketing costs ($1,500–2,500).
Delivers structured report: vehicle specs, collateral value table (retail/wholesale/comp range/confidence), LTV analysis, recovery and deficiency exposure estimates, cited comparables, and actionable risk recommendation.
MCP Tool Calls
| Tool | Calls | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
decode_vin_neovin | 1 | Exact collateral spec confirmation including MSRP |
predict_price_with_comparables | 2 | Franchise retail and independent wholesale-proxy collateral values |
search_active_cars | 1–2 | Active comparable listings for collateral range |
search_past_90_days | 1 | Sold transaction evidence for defensible collateral valuation |
get_car_history | 1 (optional) | Historical listing trajectory — rapid dealer hops or extended DOM warrant collateral haircut |
Example Output
COLLATERAL VALUATION REPORT ════════════════════════════════════════════════ Vehicle: 2022 Toyota RAV4 XLE AWD VIN: 2T3P1RFV8NC234567 Odometer: 41,800 miles | Condition: Average Purpose: Loan origination Location: Dallas, TX (ZIP 75201) | Radius: 75 mi COLLATERAL VALUE SUMMARY Algorithmic Predicted Value: $31,200 (franchise) Active Comparable Range: $28,900 – $34,800 (21 comps) Sold Transaction Range: $27,400 – $32,600 (14 sales, 90 days) ───────────────────────────────────────────────────── COLLATERAL VALUE — RETAIL: $30,800 (midpoint) COLLATERAL VALUE — WHOLESALE: $27,400 (estimated recovery floor) Confidence: HIGH (21 active comps, 14 sold) LTV ANALYSIS Loan Amount: $29,500 LTV vs Retail: 95.8% — ACCEPTABLE (below 100% threshold) LTV vs Wholesale (recovery): 107.7% — ELEVATED (recovery shortfall: $2,100) ───────────────────────────────────────────────────── Months to LTV=100% (retail): ~9 months at current 0.8%/mo depreciation rate Estimated deficiency at repo: $2,100 + remarketing costs (~$2,000) Net recovery risk: ~$4,100 RECOMMENDATION: Approve with standard terms. Consider GAP coverage recommendation — recovery shortfall likely within 12 months.
Cost Estimate
200 collateral checks/month ≈ $16–40
Limitations
- US-only for full collateral toolset (decode, predict, sold transactions). UK lenders get active listings only — no ML prediction or sold history.
- LTV projections use the current segment-level depreciation rate as a proxy — actual depreciation velocity for a specific unit may differ based on condition and mileage.
- Recovery estimates assume standard remarketing conditions ($1,500–2,500 costs) — actual costs vary by geography and vehicle condition.
- Comparable count in rural markets or for niche vehicles may fall below the confidence threshold; flagged as LOW confidence when fewer than 10 comps found.
More in the Lender Plugin
Residual risk curves and advance rate guidance by segment and brand
View details →Monthly portfolio risk briefing with collateral health signals
View details →Residual risk rankings and lending policy signals from market data
View details →VIN decode, listing history, and collateral valuation
View details →Same Capability, Different Plugin
These skills share the same underlying methodology but are tuned for a different audience.
Appraiser vehicle valuation uses the same three-source methodology but frames output for trade-in, insurance, and estate appraisal purposes — no LTV calculation or recovery analysis.
View in Appraiser →Dealers use the same comparable pull to set trade-in acquisition prices — their 'wholesale' anchor is the lender's 'recovery floor' in the same transaction.
View in Dealer →Insurers need the same franchise retail value for replacement cost claims — both lenders and insurers use the same market data, but lenders calculate forward-looking LTV while insurers anchor to pre-loss FMV.
View in Insurer →