Getting Started Guide

Getting Started

Everything you need to know to start using Appraisal Vault.

1

Download the App

Appraisal Vault works on both mobile and desktop. Download the app to get started, or visit the web portal from your computer.

Most reps use the mobile app day-to-day. The web portal is great for managers who want to view appraisals, manage the team, or print from a desktop.

2

Overview

Appraisal Vault is the fastest way to create, manage, and share vehicle appraisals with your dealership team. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know.

What you'll learn

How to set up your account
Creating your first appraisal
Using AI-powered pricing
Managing your pipeline

Key features

VIN Scanner

Scan barcodes with your camera to auto-fill vehicle details.

AI Appraisal

Get instant market-based pricing with real comparable listings.

Photo Capture

Take photos directly or upload from your gallery.

Team Collaboration

Share appraisals, add notes, and track your pipeline together.

Pipeline Management

Search, filter, and track appraisals from Pending to Won or Lost.

Dealership Syncing

Share inventory with partner dealerships while keeping customer info private.

3

Setting Up Your Account

Your dealership manager will send you an email invitation. Here's what to expect:

1

Download the app

Download Appraisal Vault from the App Store or Google Play.

2

Sign up with your invited email

Open the app and tap "Sign Up". Enter the email address your manager invited — we'll verify it and link you to your dealership automatically.

3

Verify your email

Enter the 6-digit code sent to your email. This confirms your identity.

4

Enter your name

Enter your first and last name.

5

Add your phone number

Enter your phone number (10+ digits). This is required.

6

Create a password

Choose a password with at least 8 characters and one number. Once set, you're in!

Use the same email address your manager invited — a different email won't work.

4

Creating Your First Appraisal

Creating an appraisal takes less than a minute. Here's the workflow:

1

Tap the + tab

At the bottom of the screen, tap the + button to start a new appraisal.

2

Scan or enter the VIN

Point your camera at the VIN barcode — the app will auto-fill the year, make, and model. You can also type it manually.

3

Add vehicle details

Fill in the mileage, condition, trim level, and any damage or tire notes.

4

Take photos

Snap photos directly or upload from your gallery. Photos help your team and managers review the vehicle.

5

Add customer info

Enter the customer's name, phone, and email. This is optional but helps your team follow up.

6

Save or submit

Save as a draft to finish later, or submit it right away.

You can save a draft and come back to it later — nothing gets lost.

5

AI Appraisal

If your dealership has the AI Appraisal add-on enabled, you can get instant market-based pricing on any vehicle.

How it works

Tap the “Get AI Appraisal” button on any appraisal. The system searches real market listings, analyzes comparable vehicles, and generates a detailed pricing breakdown — usually in under 30 seconds.

What you'll see

Retail estimateWhat comparable vehicles are listed for
Condition adjustmentsDeductions for mileage, damage, or wear
Market adjustmentsRegional supply/demand factors
Trade-in valueThe final recommended number

You'll also see the actual comparable listings the AI used, so you can verify the data yourself.

AI Appraisal pulls real listings from the market — it's not a guess. Use it as a starting point for your negotiations.

6

Managing Your Appraisals

Once you've created appraisals, here's how to stay organized.

Search tabShows all appraisals across your dealership. Use filters to find specific vehicles by status, text, or date.
Appraisals tabShows just your own appraisals. Active deals are at the top, with archived and drafts below.
Status trackingUpdate each appraisal as it progresses: Pending → Appraised → Won or Lost. This keeps your whole team on the same page.
NotesAdd notes to any appraisal. Your team gets notified when you do — great for leaving updates or questions.
FavoritesStar any appraisal to add it to your favorites. Use the favorites filter to quickly find deals you're watching.
ShareTap the share button on any appraisal to send a link to a colleague. They can open it directly in the app.

Mark deals as Won or Lost — your manager uses this to track the pipeline and measure performance.

Owners & Admins
7

Inviting Your Team

As a dealership owner or admin, you can invite your sales reps to join Appraisal Vault. Use the web portal (Settings → Team) or the Manage tab in the mobile app if you have admin access.

1

Open Team Management

From the portal, go to Settings → Team. In the app, open the Manage tab (visible to admins only). Both show your current team and available seats.

2

Send an invitation

Tap 'Invite Member', enter the rep's email address, and send. They'll receive an email with a link to download the app and create their account.

3

Track acceptance

You'll see pending invitations and their status. Once a rep accepts, they appear in your team list.

About Seat Limits

Your subscription includes a set number of seats. Each team member uses one seat. If you need more seats, you can upgrade from the Billing page in the portal.

Managing Roles

You can promote team members to Admin or demote them back to Member. Admins can invite and manage other team members on your behalf.

Reps must sign up using the exact email you invited — remind them to check their inbox (and spam folder).

8

Dealership Settings & Billing

The web portal and the app's Manage tab give you full control over your dealership's configuration and subscription.

DashboardSee all appraisals across your team at a glance. Filter by rep, status, or date to monitor activity.
Subscription & BillingManage your plan, update payment methods, and adjust your seat count from Settings → Billing.
AI Appraisal Add-onEnable AI Appraisal for your entire team. This is a flat-rate add-on — once enabled, every rep can use it on any appraisal.
DMS IntegrationConfigure automatic appraisal delivery to your DMS system. Set the destination email and choose when appraisals are sent (on creation, on status change, etc.).
Deal SettingsConfigure your recon baseline, pack amount, and target gross. These settings shape how AI pricing calculates trade-in values for your dealership.
Dealership SyncingConnect with partner dealerships to share appraisal inventory. Generate a sync code from the app's Manage tab, share it with a partner, and start seeing each other's appraisals. Customer info stays private until you connect on a deal.

You can manage everything from the portal at appraisal-vault.com — no need to use the mobile app for admin tasks.

Need Help?

We're here to help you get the most out of Appraisal Vault. Reach out anytime.