Go to DealerCenter

Understanding the ‘Water’ Value in DealerCenter

We're here to help! For additional support on this topic or for more information on how to get started reach out to our Support Team at support@dealercenter.com or call us at 888-669-2669.

 

 

 

IN THIS ARTICLE:


What Does ‘Water’ Mean in DealerCenter?

In DealerCenter, the 'Water' value helps you understand your vehicle's equity. Simply put, if your car is worth less than what you paid, you have a negative equity car, also known as being "upside-down" or "underwater".

Water - Highlighted.png

The ‘Water’ value is calculated by taking the book value of the car and subtracting the total cost (vehicle cost plus any additional costs like reconditioning or repair costs) to determine the vehicle’s equity – whether positive or negative.

Note that this number does not consider the amount you might sell the car for. It only compares the book value to the total cost of the car.

Example:

Water - Calculation.png

  1. You paid $24,400 for this Honda Civic at auction and had $500 in repair costs, so your total cost for this vehicle is $24,900.
  2. The Kelley Blue Book Lending Value for this car is $27,173.
  3. Water: $27,173 - $24,900 = $2,273

You’re in the green! According to the Kelley Blue Book Lending Value, this car is worth $2,273 more than it cost you. If the car’s book value was less than it cost you, then 'Water' would be in the red, like this:

Water Red.png


Change the Book Value 'Water' is Calculated By

You can choose which book value 'Water' should be calculated on. For example, you could use Kelley Blue Book’s 'Typical Listing Price' instead of the 'Lending' value.

Water - Show Book Selection.gif

To change this setting, follow these steps:

  1. Click the gear icon next to 'Water'
  2. Select the desired book value from the dropdown menu.

This will update the 'Water' calculation based on the selected book value.