Concern at the quality of vehicle appraisals carried out by franchised dealers has led Manheim Europe to launch a series of bespoke appraisal training courses, aimed in particular at potential part-exchange vehicles.

The courses, designed to five sales staff the skills necessary to carry out part exchange appraisals and valuations “consistently and professionally”, will take place at Manheim's 19 UK auction centres.

Alan Cureton, Manheim Europe's dealer sales director, said: “All too often the potential part exchange is only given a cursory examination. This unfortunately leads to expensive reconditioning charges and in many cases has a direct effect on a used car department's stock turn. Also, sales staff get demotivated from trying to sell an expensive used car in relation to the local market place and the final result is often the vehicle being liquidated at a substantial loss.”