Is Kelley Blue Book .com accurate?

"There's an ass for every seat."

Used car pricing - dealer, car lot, private - varies all over the place. There's a good reason why a car is for sale, and that reason is usually NOT because the present owner is in love with the car. Think about it.

I worked for two different dealerships in the 80's and neither one of them ever had a "Bluebook.

They felt they were not dependable for some reason.

Back then, the N.A.D.A. was the bible. That was compiled by dealer and auction reporting in your region.
Both of then also used the "Black Book" auto values. Black Book was always lower than N.A.D.A. We would buy with Black Book and sell with N.A.D.A.:lol:

In fact I never thought about it, but even though I worked in the business for 7 years, and we all used the expression "bluebook" I have never seen or held an actual Blue Book!

I use KBB and Edmunds, to get a 'ball-park' figure, knowing that there will be 'wiggle-room' in all prices listed.

talismandave said:

Back then, the N.A.D.A. was the bible. That was compiled by dealer and auction reporting in your region.
Both of then also used the "Black Book" auto values. Black Book was always lower than N.A.D.A. We would buy with Black Book and sell with N.A.D.A.:lol:

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Totally agree - back in the late 80s I was working on a lot using black book to price trades and selling using NADA.

10 yrs ago I was a Pricing Analyst for expired assets with a fleet vehicle leasing company and Black Book was the preferred pricing guide. We would offer the expired asset to the driver for purchase at 2 to 4 points over black book wholesale.

As for Kelly Bluebook, I personally think they are on the higher side. But as Sub mentioned the variances are many.

A car is just like anything else, it's worth whatever it will bring on the current market in your area. The "book" is a guide and not a bible unless it will work in your favor.