Under paragraph 36 of Schedule 12 of the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007, the bailiff is required to provide you, the debtor, with a written valuation of your goods, including a vehicle.

Importantly, you have the right to challenge this valuation and can also obtain an independent valuation.

Bailiffs often overvalue goods they suspect might be exempt goods to exceed the £1,350 exemption threshold.

Additionally, bailiffs may undervalue goods for personal gain, either by retaining sale proceeds for themselves or their company or by purchasing the vehicle for their use, a practice common with small bailiff companies or startups.

To establish an indisputable valuation, you can search for completed vehicle listings on eBay for similar vehicles sold in the last 30 days.

By finding the average sale price of at least three comparable examples, you can contest the bailiff's arbitrary valuation of your vehicle.

If you suspect the bailiff sold your vehicle for less than its true value, then download and complete a DVLA Form V888 to request the new keeper's name and address.

Ask the new keeper for evidence of the bill of sale so you can compare the bailiff's declared sale price with the actual auction price the new owner actually paid.

You may recover the difference by applying for a Detailed Assessment together with your legal expenses.

Ask a friend to use their name and address to complete Form V888. In Part 2 of the form, they should write:

I request the name and address of the keeper because, on [DATE ONE DAY AGO], the vehicle was involved in a minor parking accident with my car, and I need to share this information with my insurer.

Should the DVLA decline your request for the new keeper's name and address, you may apply for a Norwich Pharmacal Order at the Kings Bench Division under Civil Procedure Rule 31.17