About Used Cars

Most people run to the Kelley Blue Book when they’re looking to purchase a car. They don’t realize how valuable the Blue Book is when it comes to selling a car. It can help you to determine whether you’re getting a good deal on a trade in at a dealership or you’re being taken for a ride. Here’s how to use the Kelley Blue Book to help determine a car’s trade in value.

1. Go to the Kelley Blue Book website and locate the car’s year, make and model under the Used Car section of the page. You can locate the car by using their category search function or you can insert the year, make and model directly. Don’t forget to enter your zip code so that the trade in value will be specific for your area of the country.
2. Click the “Trade-In Value” link. After inserting the car’s year make and model, Kelley Blue Book wants you to select the valuation method. Since you’re looking for the trade-in value of the car, click the appropriate link.
3. Choose the car’s trim. Trim is another word for further defining the vehicle. For example, a 2001 Ford Windstar has 6 different trim selections such as Cargo, LX, SE Sport, SE, SEL and Limited. Make sure to select the correct trim. Kelley Blue Book’s trade in value is based on the vehicle specifics. If you put in the wrong specifics, you won’t get an accurate trade in value.
4. Enter the mileage and ancillary features. Kelley Blue Book checks off the standard equipment and it’s up to you to check off the added non standard features. It’s your chance to increase the value of the car by listing special features such as video systems, dual power seats or sun roof.
5. Select the vehicle’s condition. Hopefully the vehicle is in excellent shape. Although, according to Kelley Blue Book, only 5% of used cars fall into the excellent category. More likely the vehicle is in good condition, although there are two other alternatives, fair and poor. Be honest. You want an accurate trade in value.



6. Print the trade in value. After selecting the vehicle’s condition, Kelley Blue Book will display the trade in value. Print it out and use it just in case a dealer tries to lowball your vehicle’s value.

Tip

Consider selling the car privately if you find the Kelley Blue Book trade in value is too low. Most often sellers get more through a private sale than through a dealer trade in.

Before you walk into the dealer showroom in an attempt to trade in your car, It’s a good idea to see how much your vehicle is worth. It only takes about five minutes to go to the NADA (National Automobile Dealers Association) site to calculate your cars trade in value. It makes sense to take advantage of the tool because it can help to put a little more money in your pocket in the long run. Here’s how to calculate the trade in value of your car with NADA.

• Go to the Consumer section of the NADA.com website and click on the “New & Used Prices & Specs” link and then click the “New and Used Car Center” link. Since NADA is used by businesses and consumers, make sure to access the Consumer section.

• Choose the car that you’re trading in. You need to select the make, year, model and style (trim) of the car. This is the basic information NADA needs to begin determining your car’s trade-in value.

• Insert the vehicle mileage and select the additional equipment options for your car. NADA pre-selects the standard issue equipment, but you have to tell them of the add on features your car has.

• Click “Continue” to see your trade in value report. In reviewing the report, you’ll notice that NADA provides three prices, Rough, Average and Clean, which refer to the car’s condition.

Tip

You should totally prepare yourself for trade in value negotiations by getting the Kelley Blue Book and Edmunds trade in values. The more information you have the better your negotiating position.