Automobile Blue Book

The Kelley's Blue Book was a pioneering guide for consumers and auto industry professionals. Today automobile values are critical to any sale process. The auto guides provide an estimated value for a vehicle, given its year of manufacture, condition, mileage and other factors. Comparing automobile makes and brands is probably one of the first steps in the purchasing process.

Automobile Blue Book

The Kelley's Blue Book is the automobile blue book, which has served as a guide for the American automobile consumer since decades. The Automobile Blue Book is a reliable and trusted source for automobile values that is used by consumers and auto industry professionals alike. Dating back to 1926 when Les Kelley began distributing car values to banks and the automotive community, it soon turned into a full-fledged service that is referred to as an automobile blue book. It carried the blue and gold ribbon medallion on its cover; which it does so till this day. The automobile blue book then diversified to cater to the used car segment.

What began as a consumer edition of the Blue Book for Automobiles is today a virtual automobile comparison guide and carries tips and advice on automobile brands. With its far-reaching popularity, it is little wonder that the Kelley's Blue Book for automobiles took an online presence too.

Kelley Blue Book has been a highly influential factor in automobile comparison studies as well as auto purchase decisions. It continues to remain a trusted authoritative figure in automotive awareness. Hardly an automobile transaction takes place without a referral to the automobile Blue Book. Look up the value of any used car or truck from 1984 to the present model year with Kelley Blue Book - the automobile price guide used by the auto industry.

Automobile Comparison

Comparing and contrasting automobile values is a critical step in the buying process. The automobile blue book is one reliable source of car values that can aid the sale process. When buying a used automobile, it is very essential to look up its history to see if it's a lemon. CARFAX database can help you sieve through their database by submitting the car's unique 17 digit VIN (Vehicle Identification Number).

Data such as state title and registration records and auto and salvage companies is used for arriving at a final report on a used vehicle. NADA guides and other popular automobile web sites allow you to compare automobile features on the basis of body style, make, features, engine, transmission, popularity and price.

What are the factors that women look into when comparing automobiles and making a decision? A survey conducted by Good Housekeeping and J.D. Power in 2004 showed the following features:

• Nearly 60% of automobile sales were either made or influenced by women.
  
  
• Safety remained the dominant factor for women when comparing automobile features.
  
  
• Vehicle performance was also an important feature of comparison. Women were more likely to choose environment friendly vehicles.
  

Automobile Values

When buying or selling used cars, Blue Book values give an estimated value for the automobile depending on the condition of the vehicle, mileage, equipment and options on the automobile as well as the geographical terrain over which it has been driven.

• Trade In automobile value is the value that you expect to get for your vehicle when trading it with a dealer.
  
  
• Private Party automobile value is the transaction amount between two consumers.
  
  
• Suggested retail automobile value is the price that a used car dealer would give you when shopping for a used automobile.
  

Automobile values tend to depreciate from the time you drive them off the lot. The loss in automobile value can vary between automobile types and makes. Changing consumer tastes, supply and demand affect the fall in used automobile values. Popular makes and automobiles with limited availability tend to maintain a higher value vis-à-vis other competitive brands.

Additional features such as tilt steering windows, cruise control, premium wheels and the like may not add much to the value but automobile value is lesser if such features are absent. Customized cars and cars in shades of green, purple or orange may have lesser trade in values when compared with similar cars of popular shades of white, black, silver, blue or red.

If there has been any engine upgradation, chances are that the automobile value may be slightly higher. Vehicles that have a tendency to become troublesome with age tend to lose value rapidly. Check out residual automobile values from reliable auto guides to get acquainted with the price range. While firming on a buying deal, keep these pointers in mind:

• Ensure that you negotiate a purchase value for the automobile keeping in mind the monthly payments for the vehicle. If you are going in for a trade - in offer, get a firm trade-in offer from the dealer.
  
  
• Scrutinize automobile values from a reliable consumer guide. It pays to examine more than one pricing guide since each automobile value guide follows different criteria.
  
  
• Document preparation is part of the advertised vehicle cost and must not be charged extra.
  
  
• Check all the fine print regarding the automobile sale agreement before signing it.