Terms of service

An independent written opinion of the market value of a vehicle at a stated date, prepared from the information and photographs you supply, and issued as a signed certificate.

It is a desktop valuation. Unless we have separately agreed a physical inspection in writing, we do not see the vehicle. It is not a mechanical inspection, not a roadworthy or safety check, not a title or finance check, and not a compliance assessment.

Prices are fixed and stated including GST. A tax invoice is issued for every payment. There are no hidden charges — if a job turns out to need work beyond a standard valuation we will quote it before doing it, not afterwards.

The certificate is released once payment has cleared. Where we complete the work before payment, we will tell you it is ready and ask you to pay; the certificate is sent automatically the moment the payment goes through, together with your tax invoice.

You can pay by card or ask for an invoice. Card payments are handled by Stripe and card details never reach us.

Turnaround runs from when we have everything we need — the completed vehicle form and any photographs — not from when you first make contact. Priority work is 24 hours and we treat that as a deadline.

If we cannot meet the turnaround you have paid for, tell us and we will refund the difference between priority and standard, or the whole fee if the delay makes the valuation useless to you.

The valuation is only as good as what it is built on. You are responsible for the accuracy of the vehicle details you give us — particularly the VIN or chassis number, the odometer reading, and anything you know about the vehicle's condition, damage or modification history.

If material information is wrong or left out, the figure may be wrong, and we are not responsible for that. If you realise something was wrong after the certificate is issued, tell us — a corrected certificate is usually straightforward.

Once we have set a figure, the vehicle details are settled and can no longer be edited from your form. Contact us and we will correct them.

A certificate states a value as at its issue date and is treated as current for 28 days. Vehicle markets move, and a figure presented as current months later is not one we stand behind. We will email you before it expires.

The certificate is prepared for you and for the purpose you told us about — insurance, finance, customs, a legal matter or a sale. You are welcome to give it to the insurer, lender, broker, solicitor or court it was prepared for.

We do not accept responsibility to someone we have never dealt with who relies on a certificate for a different purpose entirely. Anyone can confirm a certificate is genuine at our verification page.

Do not alter a certificate. An altered certificate will not verify, and passing one off as ours is something we will pursue.

Before we start work: cancel and pay nothing, or get a full refund if you have already paid.

After the valuation is complete: the work has been done and the fee is payable. If you are unhappy with it, raise it with us — we would rather understand a complaint than keep a fee.

None of this limits your rights under the Australian Consumer Law, which we cannot exclude and are not trying to.

We carry professional indemnity insurance and we take the accuracy of our work seriously.

Our services come with guarantees under the Australian Consumer Law that cannot be excluded. Where we are permitted to limit our liability, we limit it to re-supplying the valuation or refunding the fee you paid for it.

A valuation is a professional opinion, honestly formed on the evidence available. It is not a promise that a vehicle will sell for that figure, or that a third party will accept it.

Ring us or email us with the certificate reference and what the problem is. We will come back to you. We would far rather fix something ourselves than have you take it elsewhere first.

These terms are governed by the law of New South Wales, Australia.

Valuations are supplied by Top Secret Imports Pty Ltd (ABN 17 116 245 366) and invoiced by the entity named on your tax invoice.