Original loss history
Starts at 10. Minor damage −0.5, moderate −1.5, major −4, unknown −2. Airbag deployment −2 (unknown −0.75). Structural damage −3 (unknown −1). Flood or fire history −3. History never falls below zero.
THE STIGMA SCORE / RUBRIC V1
Less mystery.
More context.
Our score compares the history, documentation and visible presentation described in a listing. Higher means more favorable under this rubric. It is a subjective editorial system with a consistent calculation; its accuracy has not been independently validated.
START HEREThe owner grades the car.
We assess the story behind it.
We assess the story behind it.
Both scores are out of 10. Open a listing’s scorecard to see what moved the number.
Find a car ↗Two scores. Two sources.
Owner rating: the average of the seller’s mechanical and cosmetic grades, each out of 10. These are subjective self-ratings. Missing grades stay unrated. Illustrative launch grades are identified separately.
Stigma score: reviewers record structured observations and evidence grades. A published formula turns those inputs into a score. A formula makes the calculation repeatable; the reviewer’s inputs still involve judgment.
How the score is calculated +
Documentation
A reviewer grades original damage photos, repair records, service history, current photos and inspection evidence from 0–10. Extensive service records help but do not replace original repair evidence.
Refinish & presentation
A reviewer grades visible finish, photo coverage and disclosed imperfections from 0–10. This is a presentation judgment from available evidence; hidden repair quality cannot be established from photos.
Important score ceilings. +
Unknown airbag or structural history caps the overall score at 7.4. Airbag deployment caps it at 6.9; structural damage at 5.9; both together at 5.0. Flood or fire history caps it at 5.9. The lowest applicable ceiling wins. The weighted result is rounded to one decimal after ceilings are applied.
★ What earns a Gold Star? +
Documented theft recovery, no collision damage, no airbag deployment, no structural damage, no paintwork, independent inspection evidence, and documentation/presentation grades of at least 9. The assessment must be reviewed rather than provisional. This is a special provenance designation, not a guarantee or simply a high score.
How to read the signals. +
↑ means a favorable factor, ↓ means a deduction or unresolved gap, and ↔ adds context. These arrows explain the rating. They do not estimate dollar value. Mileage and owner count are visible context, not automatic deductions in v1.
8.5–10: Standout · 7–8.4: Promising · 5–6.9: Look closely · Below 5: High caution. Always open the breakdown; a single number cannot capture every tradeoff.
What the score cannot tell you. +
No mechanical inspection, safety certification, appraisal, reliability forecast or resale prediction is implied. A score never establishes that a vehicle is safe or correctly repaired. Confirm the title and history, review the evidence and obtain an independent specialist inspection. Provisional scores can change as evidence arrives. Community voting is not part of v1.