Pick Your Price: the Auto Blue Book

When making an automobile transaction, there is one tool that can help both buyers and sellers make sure they are getting a good deal, the Kelley Blue Book. One question people always when buying a car is whether or not they are paying the right amount. That's where the Blue Book comes into play.

Among its several features, the Kelley Blue Book Web site has two main sections, one for pricing new automobiles, and another for judging the value of used cars.

For new cars, the Blue Book site allows the user to find the price of an auto by searching the make and model or the category. Under make and model, the user will be able to choose the automobile maker and then the model. For example, by choosing Honda, one can look up the price for Accords, Civics and anything else Honda manufactures.

Under category, the browser can select sedan, truck, wagon coupe, etc. and from there select a make. For example, by selecting sedan, the user will be taken to a list of manufacturers that make sedans. By clicking on a Toyota, the user will see all of the sedans Toyota makes, including Avalon, Camry and Corolla, among others.

While the Kelley Blue Book Web site is good for figuring out the price of a new car, it is probably more valuable for finding the value of used autos.

Users can search the used car menu the same way as the new car section. The menus do ask the search to be more specific, however, by asking for the year.

Once the desired car is selected, three options are available. The first is the Kelley Blue Book Trade-In Value, which is the price consumers can expect to get when trading their car in at a dealership. The second option is the Kelley Blue Book Private Party Value. This is what the expected price the buyer will pay when buying a used auto from a private party. Finally, the Kelley Blue Book Suggested Retail Value, which is the starting price dealers generally ask for when selling that specific type of car.

After selecting the type of car and then one of the three options, the consumer will be asked to specify the specs of the car, including the mileage, features (including breaks, stereo, steering, etc.) and the condition of the car. This allows the Blue Book to give the consumer the most accurate price. This is necessary because no two used cars are alike. A 1999 Honda Accord that has dents and high mileage should be cheaper than a 1999 Accord that is in excellent condition and has low mileage.

The Blue Book Web site offers several other features to assist auto buyers in their search for the car that will fit their budget and needs. One of those features is a page that allows buyers to search used cars that are for sale. The user can search by make, model, price range and zip code. Along with the listing of cars for sale, Kelley Blue Book also gives sellers the option to list their cars. This option also gives sellers tips on how to sell their cars and helps them determine the right price for their car.

Another popular feature on the Web site of Kelley Blue book is the section that gives reviews of cars. Consumers are able to search the reviews by choosing a specific model, such as a Honda Accord, or vehicle group, such as pickup or family sedan. Once a car type is selected, several reviews will appear, including the Kelley Blue Book or JD Power Quality Ratings. This allows the consumer to find several points of view.

The Kelley Blue Book also offers advice, giving 10 steps to buying a new car, a used car and 10 steps to selling a car. Along with the advice, the Web site gives guidance to buyers in the areas of financing a car and insurance. Payment calculators help buyers estimate the monthly payments they can expect.

The Kelley Blue Book is a great tool for auto buyers and sellers. It should be consulted by anyone, experienced or inexperienced, then in the process of buying or selling a car.