What is Kelley Blue Book?

When looking at used cars or looking into selling your car, you’ve probably seen the words “Kelley Blue Book” or “KBB” come up. Have you found yourself asking, “Well, what is Kelley Blue Book?” Don’t worry because TFC Title Loans can help you with blue book value for used cars.

What is Kelley Blue Book?

We have been helping customers with pink slip loans for more than 20 years. When our customers have wanted to figure out the blue book value for used cars before they committed, they’ve gone to Kelley Blue Book value for used cars and their online estimator. For an auto title loan lender that uses the blue book value for used cars to provide you with an online title loan, you can trust us to inform you of Kelley Blue Book.

Brief History

In 1918, Les Kelley opened up a used car dealership in Los Angeles, California. He would create a list of used cars that he wanted to buy from the local dealerships around him and determine the blue book value for used cars. Now, the Kelley Blue Book value for used cars is the standard used by dealerships across the nation.

The auto industry began to use Kelley Blue Book value for used cars as a valuation service to fulfill the need for used car purchasing information by banking and insurance industries. The government used the Kelley Blue Book value for used cars to put a ceiling price on used cars after World War II. Until 1993, the book only existed as a “trade” publication. After 1993, a Consumer Edition was published, and now owners can access Kelley blue book car values through the website kbb.com.

Kelley Blue Book Values & Their Establishment

So, what are Kelley’s blue book car values? Kelley Blue Book car values use actual transactions to come up with their analytical data. They collect used car purchase information to feed into their blue book value for the used cars database. They find their information from:

• Wholesale auctions

Dealers trade and sell at auctions for cars they think that they can sell at their establishment. They get these cars from other dealers, rental agencies, fleet owners, off-lease vehicles through financial institutions, and manufacturer demo/promotional vehicles.

• Independent dealers

These are everyday dealers that sell different types of cars makes.

• Franchised dealers

The specifically branded dealerships, which will tend to sell other brands of used cars.

• Rental & fleet

Rental agencies and fleets will send their used cars to auctions after at least one year of use.

• Original equipment manufacturer (OEM)

The equipment manufacturer will send used cars to auctions that had been for employees or promotional use.

• Financial institution lessors

When you lease a car, the financial institution owns it and you rent it. When the lease is up, they’ll either sell the car to the lessee or auction it.

• Consumer private party transactions

Kelley Blue Book tracks the consumer sale price each year.

Kelley blue book car values

Different Values

To determine the exact blue book value for used cars, Kelley Blue Book follows its historical trends, current economic conditions, industry developments, seasonality, and the location of the consumer. Kelley Blue Book value for used cars focuses on four different value categories:

1. KBB Private Party Value: the amount a buyer would pay through the private party
2. KBB Trade-In Value: the amount the car owner would receive from a dealership
3. KBB Suggested Retail Value: how much the dealer should sell the car to a consumer
4. KBB Certified Pre-Owned Value: how much the dealer should sell the car to a consumer if the car is part of the automaker-certified pre-owned (CPO) program

Now that you know what is Kelley blue book, search blue book value for used cars!

How to Find My Car’s Value on KBB

You can get an accurate estimate for the value of your car through Kelley Blue Book car values, an online estimator. It’s simple to use, even if you don’t know a lot about cars.

1. You will first be asked to enter the year, make, model, and mileage of your car.
2. The page will ask for your zip code or the zip code you plan to sell your car through so it can estimate your location prices. Then, you’ll be asked about the vehicle style. For example, a sedan or hatchback.
3. You have the option to select the standard equipment included with your vehicle or if you have any specific features. If you have items like power lock, power window, CD/MP3, or any extra packages, we suggest you look through the options to get an accurate estimate.
4. Even the color of your car will determine the price, so click on the color options which one is yours.
5. Next will be the condition of your car. It ranges from fair to excellent, so try to be as honest as possible. Think about how well it operates and the condition of the exterior compared to the year and mileage.
6. You will receive the blue book value for used cars, which you can switch between trade-in or private party. You also have the option to see the prices for fair to excellent.

Come to TFC Title Loans!

Once you’ve seen the blue book value for used cars, divide the value in half. That’s how much money you could get from TFC Title Loans!

This article was brought to you by TFC Title Loans, we try to bring to you the most informative information. If you are interested in getting a title loan in your area, we are able to help you with our large referral network.

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