Orange County, California
Independent appraisal and advisory for significant automotive assets.
For trustees, estate attorneys, family offices, and collectors. Valuations documented to withstand IRS, court, and lender review.
Every inquiry is confidential. Prefer to write? Request a proposal or request an appraisal.
Independent
Valuations prepared on their own merits and documented to hold up under review.
Strategic
Advice built around your objectives, not transaction volume.
Confidential
Discreet guidance for high-value collectors, fiduciaries, and the professionals who serve them.
Vehicles become a fiduciary problem faster than most people expect.
A vehicle is an asset like any other, and it is often the one nobody on the advisory team knows how to value, document, store, or sell. For a trustee or executor, a weak valuation or a mishandled disposition is a liability. We give fiduciaries and their attorneys a defensible number and a clear plan.
Valuation and appraisal
Fair market value reports for estates (IRS Form 706), trusts, insurance, lending, divorce, and charitable gifts.
Estate tax appraisalsPortfolio and succession planning
A documented inventory, current values, and a written plan for what happens to a collection, made before an event forces the decision.
Succession planningAdvisory
Objective guidance on whether to hold, sell, transfer, or donate, grounded in current auction and private-sale data.
AdvisoryExecution
Sales representation, auction consignment, ownership transfers, and title and registration coordination through a trusted network.
Asset AdvisoryWho we help
Estate and probate attorneys
Valuation, documentation, and disposition support for vehicles in the estates you administer.
Trustees, executors, and fiduciaries
Objective guidance through administration, ownership transitions, and beneficiary decisions.
Wealth managers and family offices
Specialized automotive expertise for clients whose assets include significant vehicles.
Private collectors and families
Planning for acquisitions, collections, and the transfer of cars between generations.
Everyone we work with: fiduciaries, attorneys, family offices, insurers, and lenders
How an engagement runs
The same five steps, whether it is one car or a collection of forty.
- Confidential conversationThe vehicles, the situation, and the deadline.
- Physical inspectionHands-on evaluation of condition, documents, and history.
- Market and asset reviewReal sales and auction results, not asking prices.
- Written reportA defensible value and a recommendation for each vehicle.
- CoordinationWork with your attorney, CPA, and family until it is resolved.
Thirty years of hands-on experience
Featured in COAST Magazine and on Wheeler Dealers. Member of CF200, the Porsche Club of America, and a Ferrari club. About David Cashion
The team’s strategic insight made a difficult estate transfer seamless and professional.Fiduciary partner
Exceptional guidance in managing a complex collector car portfolio. Their expertise is unmatched.Private collector
Working with Autoist Group gave us confidence in every decision.Private collector
Questions we answer
- Vehicle Appraisal for IRS Form 706
- Car Collection Appraisal for Estates & Trusts
- Collector Car Succession Planning
- Pre-War & Full Classic Appraisals
- Porsche, Ferrari & Exotic Appraisals
- Vehicles in an Estate: A Trustee’s Guide
Where we work
Frequently asked questions
What does a vehicle appraisal for an estate (IRS Form 706) need to include?
A written report by a qualified appraiser that identifies the vehicle (VIN, mileage, condition), states the valuation date, defines fair market value, documents the market evidence used, and carries the appraiser’s signed certification. Your estate attorney or CPA decides what the filing requires; we prepare the vehicle valuation to support it.
How is a collector car valued for an estate or trust?
By fair market value as of the valuation date: the price a willing buyer and a willing seller, both informed and neither under pressure, would agree on. We rely on comparable sales, auction results, condition, originality, documentation, and provenance rather than asking prices or online estimates.
Who typically hires an independent vehicle appraiser?
Executors and trustees, estate and trust attorneys, family offices and wealth advisors, trust officers, and collectors planning ahead for a future transfer.
How long does an appraisal take?
We give you a timeline in writing before work begins. It depends on the number of vehicles, how much documentation exists, and how soon we can inspect them.
Is the first conversation confidential?
Yes. We treat every inquiry as confidential and do not share client or vehicle details.
Where do you work?
Orange County and the surrounding Southern California area, including Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Irvine, and South County. Other locations are possible by arrangement.
Tell us about the situation.
A short note is enough to begin. Or call and speak with David directly.
Request a proposal for a larger or custom engagement, or request an appraisal of specific vehicles.