What a Card Grade Does and Does Not Guarantee
Quick answer
What PSA's guarantee actually covers, why a cert number check has limits, what a review costs, and why grades from different companies are not interchangeable.
Updated 2026-09-10 · Sources: PSA
What are the key facts?
- PSA guarantee: PSA guarantees that all cards submitted to it shall be graded in accordance with PSA grading standards and under the procedures of PSA.
- Cert lookup: PSA does not view authenticated items listed on the web and does not warrant or guarantee that any such authenticated item is, in fact, a genuine PSA authenticated item.
- Review: If you still disagree with the results, you may resubmit it for Review; however, this is a paid-for service, and you will be responsible for the full grading fee and shipping charges.
A grade is a condition opinion, not a value
PSA guarantees that all cards submitted to it shall be graded in accordance with PSA grading standards and under the procedures of PSA. PSA will either: 1) Buy the card from the submitter at the current market value if the card can no longer receive a numerical grade under PSA's standards Nothing in that promises what a buyer will pay.
A cert number proves the label, not the card in the listing
PSA does not view authenticated items listed on the web and does not warrant or guarantee that any such authenticated item is, in fact, a genuine PSA authenticated item.
Grades from different companies are not interchangeable
No official PSA, BGS, SGC or CGC page we opened states that a grade from one company equals a grade from another. Each grades to its own published standard, and CGC and BGS use grades (Pristine 10, Black Label, plus grades) that PSA does not.
Reviews and resubmissions
we have a minimum of two or more, professional graders review your item and they must agree upon a grade. If you still disagree with the results, you may resubmit it for Review; however, this is a paid-for service, and you will be responsible for the full grading fee and shipping charges. Cracking a card out of one holder to submit elsewhere is common, but no official page we opened describes the risk, so we do not quantify it.
FAQ
Does a PSA 10 guarantee the card's value?
No. PSA guarantees the card was graded to PSA's standards; value is set by buyers.
If the cert number checks out, is the card real?
The number is real. Whether the card in front of you is the one PSA graded is a separate question, and PSA says it does not check items listed online.
More in Card Grading Scales: PSA, BGS and CGC Explained
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Sources
Compiled by the StarLens editorial team
Every fact on this page is taken from the sources listed above and quoted rather than paraphrased where numbers are involved; anything the sources do not state is marked as not confirmed. Checked 2026-09-10. We do not sell, grade or appraise items; the app identifies what you photograph and points you to these references.