Scoring Methodology
TACIS™ Scoring Engine
Total Axis Condition Intelligence Score
Deterministic, decomposable, volatility-adjusted. Four-axis scoring architecture designed for transparency, arbitration defensibility, and institutional-grade transaction intelligence.
Axis Architecture
TACIS™ Axes — SI / MS / CC / DP
Every TACIS score decomposes into four independent axes. Each axis represents a distinct dimension of vehicle condition with its own weight reflecting transactional significance.
Structural Integrity
Weight: 35%
Frame integrity, unibody condition, structural welds, crash repair detection, corrosion mapping, paint depth measurements. Highest weighting reflects the irreversibility and safety impact of structural compromise.
Mechanical Systems
Weight: 30%
Powertrain health, drivetrain condition, brake systems, suspension, steering, electrical, HVAC, exhaust, cooling, and fuel systems. Second-highest weighting reflects safety and functional significance.
Cosmetic Condition
Weight: 20%
Exterior paint quality, panel condition, glass, trim, wheels and tires, interior surfaces, seats, headliner, cargo area, and odor assessment. Lower weighting reflects reversibility and lower transactional risk.
Documentation & Provenance
Weight: 15%
Title status, lien records, service history availability, maintenance patterns, warranty claims, accident records, ownership chain integrity, and institutional audit requirements.
Computation Pipeline
Solve Order
Every TACIS score follows this exact computation sequence. Each step is deterministic and produces auditable intermediate values.
Execute 147-Point CVP evidence collection
Inspector completes the Condition Verification Protocol. Each of the 147 checkpoints is graded on a 0–5 severity scale with supporting photographic evidence.
Compute axis scores (SI, MS, CC, DP)
Checklist findings are classified into four condition axes. Each axis score is computed as a normalized value (0–100) from category-level severity aggregation.
Calculate Base Score (weighted composite)
Base Score = SI × 0.35 + MS × 0.30 + CC × 0.20 + DP × 0.15. The weighting reflects the relative transactional significance of each condition dimension.
Calculate CVM (cross-axis volatility)
CVM measures the average absolute dispersion across all axis pairs. High CVM indicates condition asymmetry — strong in one area, weak in another.
Apply CVM volatility penalty
Adjusted = Base Score − (CVM × 0.08). The penalty prevents misleadingly high averages from masking localized condition failures.
Apply ANC age normalization
ANC Factor: >10yr = 0.95, 5–10yr = 0.97, <5yr = 1.0. Ensures fair comparison across vehicle age cohorts by adjusting expectations.
Enforce Red Flag Cap
IF red_flags ≥ 3 AND score > 69, THEN score = 69 (VERIFIED RISK). This non-negotiable cap prevents math from hiding critical safety issues.
Assign Classification Band + Confidence Grade
Band assigned from 5-tier system (PRIME through CRITICAL). Confidence Grade assigned from evidence coverage depth (HIGH / MODERATE / LIMITED).
Core Architecture
Score Computation
Base Score Formula
Base = SI × 0.35 + MS × 0.30 + CC × 0.20 + DP × 0.15
CVM — Condition Volatility Measure
Cross-axis dispersion penalty
CVM = avg(|SI-MS|, |SI-CC|, |SI-DP|, |MS-CC|, |MS-DP|, |CC-DP|)
Measures the average absolute dispersion between all axis pairs. High CVM means the vehicle has significant condition asymmetry — strong in one area, weak in another. Penalty = CVM × 0.08.
ANC — Age Normalization Coefficient
Vehicle age calibration
Adjusts expectations based on vehicle age cohort. Newer vehicles are held to higher standards. A 15-year-old vehicle with minor wear scores differently than a 2-year-old with the same findings.
Red Flag Cap Rule
IF red_flags ≥ 3 AND score > 69 THEN score = 69
If a vehicle has 3 or more severity-5 red flags and the computed score exceeds 69, the final score is capped at 69 (VERIFIED RISK). This non-negotiable cap prevents mathematically high scores from masking critical safety or structural issues.
Classification Bands
90–100
VERIFIED PRIME
80–89
VERIFIED SOLID
70–79
VERIFIED WATCH
60–69
VERIFIED RISK
<60
VERIFIED CRITICAL
Interactive
TACIS™ Score Simulator
Adjust axis scores to observe how the deterministic composite, CVM penalty, ANC adjustment, and red flag cap interact in real time. Same computation used in every bureau assessment.
Red Flags
Age (yr)
Coverage
84
VERIFIED SOLID
Evidence Framework
Evidence Coverage & Confidence Grade™
Every assessment produces a Confidence Grade based on evidence coverage depth and access constraints. Confidence governs how much institutional weight participants should assign to the score.
HIGH Confidence
≥85% coverage
Full protocol completion with comprehensive photographic evidence. Institutional-grade reliability for all transaction types.
MODERATE Confidence
60–84% coverage
Partial protocol completion. Score is directionally reliable but may not capture full condition spectrum. Access constraints documented.
LIMITED Confidence
<60% coverage
Significant access limitations. Score should be treated as preliminary. Additional assessment recommended before institutional decisions.
Volatility Intelligence
Condition Volatility & Asymmetry
A vehicle can score 92 on Mechanical Systems and 55 on Structural Integrity. The simple average suggests a decent vehicle. The reality is a structurally compromised asset with good mechanicals — a fundamentally different risk profile.
CVM exists to quantify this asymmetry. It measures the average absolute dispersion across all axis pairs and applies a proportional penalty to the composite score. The higher the CVM, the more volatile the condition profile, and the larger the scoring penalty.
This is analogous to how financial risk models treat variance — two portfolios with the same expected return but different volatilities represent fundamentally different risk propositions. CVM ensures TACIS reflects total condition risk, not just average condition quality.
Example Comparison
Low Volatility Vehicle
SI: 84 · MS: 82 · CC: 80 · DP: 79
Consistent condition across all axes
High Volatility Vehicle
SI: 55 · MS: 92 · CC: 88 · DP: 70
Severe condition asymmetry — structural risk
Every score is decomposable. Every finding is evidenced.
Access the national condition bureau. Evidence first.