How to Find the Blue Book Value of a Car

If you're in the market to purchase a used car, or you're getting ready to sell your old one, the best tool you can use to protect yourself from being swindled is Kelly's Blue Book. The Blue Book is an old industry standard that lists almost every vehicle make, model, and year, along with the average value for sale by owner or dealership, depending on the condition it's in. Before you buy or sell any vehicle, here's how to find the Blue Book value of a car:

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Search for the Car's Value in Kelly's Blue Book
   
   You can pick up the most recent copy of Kelly's Blue Book at any book store or auto parts store. Flip through the different makes until you find the car brand you are looking for. Then, find the model of car, and narrow it down to the correct year. Once there, you'll see a list of the different conditions and their values based on the different types of sales. Obviously, if the car is purchased from a dealership, that's where it will cost the most. Compare the condition of the car you are buying or selling to the ones listed in the book.

2. Look Online to Find the Blue Book Value
   
   Kelly's Blue Book is also available online. You can search for both new cars and used cars, and find the blue book value of a car for free. Select either new or used cars, and fill in the make and model. You can also choose by picture, if you aren't sure what type of car you are searching for. After choosing, you'll be asked to fill in your zip code – this is so you'll get the appropriate value for your particular area. You'll be brought to a new page, where you can select the different types of models, add-ons, and find the high and low prices, along with other information about the car you've selected.

3. Check Out Edmund's
   
   If you are purchasing a car, you should also check out Edmunds.com. There, you can find full reports on new and used cars, detailed background information, consumer reviews, safety information, where you can purchase the particular car you're interested in, and of course, the blue book value of the car.