Is Max Verstappen [SP Variation] #3 worth grading?
Racing · Racing Cards 2021 Topps Chrome Formula 1 · full price guide →
Worth grading only if it gems
A PSA 10 Max Verstappen [SP Variation] #3 brings $163 versus $73.78 raw — a $89.44 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($60.00) sells for less than raw, so anything short of a 10 loses money.
- Raw (NM)
- $73.78
- PSA 10
- $163
- PSA 9
- $60.00
- Gem premium
- 2.2×
- As of
- Sep 4, 2026
Break-even by outcome and fee
| If it comes back… | Sells for | Economy / bulk (~$25.00) | Standard (~$50.00) | Express (~$150) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gem — PSA 10 | $163 | +$64.44 | +$39.44 | −$60.56 |
| PSA 9 | $60.00 | −$38.78 | −$63.78 | −$164 |
| PSA 8 | $54.96 | −$43.82 | −$68.82 | −$169 |
Net = sale price − $73.78 raw value − fee. Fee tiers are illustrative; plug your grader's current price into the calculator below.
Expected value — how often does it need to gem?
| Chance it gems | Expected sale | Expected net (standard fee) |
|---|---|---|
| 25% | $85.81 | −$37.97 |
| 50% | $112 | −$12.17 |
| 75% | $137 | +$13.63 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 62%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
Which grader pays the most — and what a 10 takes
All centering standards →| Grader | 10 sells for | vs best | Front centering for a 10 | Back |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BGS 10 | $212 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $163 | −$48.78 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $98.00 | −$114 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $98.00 | −$114 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
Tolerances are each company's published centering standard for its top grade; surface, corners and edges must also be clean. Centering is the one you can measure yourself before you pay.
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Raw conditions & history →Swipe the table for the other grading companies →
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Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
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Grading Max Verstappen [SP Variation] #3 — FAQ
Is Max Verstappen [SP Variation] #3 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Max Verstappen [SP Variation] #3 brings $163 versus $73.78 raw — a $89.44 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($60.00) sells for less than raw, so anything short of a 10 loses money.
How much is a PSA 10 Max Verstappen [SP Variation] #3 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Max Verstappen [SP Variation] #3 (Racing Cards 2021 Topps Chrome Formula 1) sells for about $163 versus $73.78 for a raw near-mint copy — a 2.2× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Max Verstappen [SP Variation] #3?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $212, ahead of PSA 10 at $163. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Max Verstappen [SP Variation] #3 need for a BGS 10?
BGS publishes 55/45 front and 70/30 back centering as the tolerance for a 10 (Gem Mint). Off-center copies are capped below the top grade regardless of surface — measure yours before paying the fee.
What gem rate makes grading Max Verstappen [SP Variation] #3 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Max Verstappen [SP Variation] #3 breaks even when it gems about 62% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $60.00).
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