To meet the growing demand from consignors for more consistency in vehicle valuation processes, Manheim on Monday morning announced plans to expand its AutoGrade condition score licensing program.

Initially distributed only to National Auto Auction Association member auctions, the company highlighted the electronic vehicle condition reporting system will now be made available to all non-NAAA auctions and wholesale marketplaces as well as other support entities, including third-party inspection companies, software vendors and consignors.

“Our clients have told us that having access to accurate condition score information is key to understanding a vehicle’s true market value and informing buying decisions,” said Grace Huang, senior vice president of inventory services for Manheim.

“By making this program more widely available, we’re helping our customers make more informed buying decisions across the wholesale ecosystem,” Huang continued.

Effective immediately, Manheim indicated any organization involved in the vehicle remarketing process will be able to obtain AutoGrade license agreements. Administered through AutoIMS (Auto Auction Services Corp.), the licenses will allow clients to input vehicle damage information via the AutoIMS inventory management system and receive a point-based grade according to Manheim and NAAA standards for various mechanical, structural, body repair and cosmetic defects.

To help ensure the continued viability of the expanded license program, Manheim said it will charge a small transaction fee administered by AutoIMS to any new customers not currently under contract. Current licensees will not be charged a transaction fee until their current contract expires.

“The No. 1 pain point for remarketers is consistent vehicle information,” AutoIMS president and chief executive officer Mike Broe said. “With this expanded program, buyers and sellers will have confidence in what the grade means and know that it’s applicable across all platforms.”

Both Manheim and AutoIMS called AutoGrade the “gold standard” for vehicle condition grading since it is becoming more readily available at a time when wholesale volumes are increasing, buyers are embracing Internet platforms and sellers are asking for consistency in their vehicle valuation processes across multiple venues and geographies.

“Our goal is to provide our clients with services that improve the overall remarketing experience,” Huang said. “AutoGrade condition scores do just that by supporting reliable, accurate and consistent reporting, thereby providing increased confidence to buyers and sellers alike.”