Comparing the Kelley Blue Book & Edmund’s Used Car Price Guide

Kelley Blue Book v/s Edmund’s Used Car Price Guide

Most individuals buying or selling cars will use mass market guides to help gauge market prices. The most commonly used are the Kelly Blue Book, and the Edmund’s Used Price Guide. Usually, those who use one are also familiar with the other.

The guides are useful for individuals who have a lot or even no experience in gauging fair car values. However, such guides may be misleading, especially if car owners do not understand the details presented in each guide. This lack of

understanding can cost the individual thousands of dollars, as a result of underselling or overpaying for car.

To help you understand each guide better, we’re going to compare each one. This article should help you know how to use each guide for your next vehicle transaction!

Edmund’s Used Car Price Guide

The average values presented in this car guide come from many transaction samples, and they include many factors. Prices include dealership transactions, and even private sellers, while mentioning costs of depreciation through the years. But do note that dealerships sell used cars for more than private owners do, so the prices you get there may be higher than what a private seller offers.

This guide divides car conditions into 5 categories, to help judge the appropriate price of your vehicle. Obviously cars in salvage condition will sell only for a small percent of their original cost, unlike a new vehicle of the same model.

It is seen as more comprehensive in its used rankings than the Kelley Blue Book. This guide tries to give you a summary of average car prices, based on year, model, make, condition, etc.

Kelley Blue Book Used Car Price Guide

The KBB is a similar price guide to Edmund’s, in terms of its extensive resources to gauge car prices. Regardless, the KBB is more dealer-oriented, and is used by dealers to set an average price. From there, buyers attempt to lower the car price from the level of the KBB. As a result, prices in the Kelley Blue Book tend to be higher than those of Edmund’s Used Car Price Guide. And they might be slightly higher than what you may receive from a private seller selling or buying a car. Thus, do not expect to pay the full KBB price for a used car.

Finally, we would like to note that used car pricing is usually an individual endeavor. Do not expect to find accurate

final prices in each guide. Final prices depend on the condition of the car, depreciation, mileage, etc more than each guide’s pricing. Regardless, the Edmund price is somewhat lesser of the 2 guides.

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ)

Does a Dealership Accept KBB Values When Receiving a Trade-In Car?

For the most part, dealerships use the Kelley Blue Book when selling cars, but not when buying them. If you bring your car to a dealership for a trade-in, you’ll receive 2 values instead. The 1st is the Manheim Market Report, which

provides an average price for your car at auctions, based on 1000s of samples across the US. This includes trucks too. The 2^nd value is the Wholesale Blue Book, which is the roof of what a dealer will pay, after deciding the type of fixes required before reselling.

What is My Car’s Kelley Blue Book Value?

The answer is simple. Simply head to the Kelley Blue Book website, and check for your car’s price yourself! After all, the Kelley Blue Book wasn’t just designed for dealerships. It was also designed for private sellers. Also, by checking

the KBB on your own, you guarantee that you are well-informed, before negotiating car prices with dealers or other owners. This advantage ensures that you won’t be pressured into a certain price, where you’ll have sufficient evidence to back you up.

Finally, we also recommend you check out other pricing databases. A good one is the Edmund’s Used Car Price Guide, and another is the NADA.

Are Blue Book Values Higher or Lower in Their Evaluation Than Black Book Car Pricing?

When it’s time to sell your car, make sure you get the best price you can find. You have to shop around in different guides. Also, shopping requires you to look at studies, to help you find reliable sources of pricing.

Studies indicate that the Kelley Blue Book provides lower pricing the Black Book Car Pricing. They are also lower than the Edmund’s Price Guide, and the NADA. This is because the Black Book receives prices for used vehicles based on 50 weekly auctions, where they calculate an average, and update that every week. Also, auction prices they select are based on what dealers charge for cars, which is usually more than the market price.