How to Value a Car

Determining the value of a car is straightforward and should be free. Here is some background information to help you determine a car's worth.

Close Embed Code

Size X

Playback

Auto Play Enable full screen player

If you're trying to sell a car, here's stuff you auto know.

Auto-play next video

Steps

Step 1

Check the internet

Conduct an internet search with the keywords "car value" to find websites that report car values.
In the U.S., three popular sources of car value information are Kelley Blue Book, CarsDirect, and NADA In the U.K., sources include Glass's, Parker's, and Autotrader.
Step 2

Enter information about the car

Enter a description of your vehicle on the website. You may be asked to identify the car's make, model, and year, as well as the color, included options, mileage, exterior condition, and mechanical condition.
Step 3

Obtain several quotes

Obtain estimates of the car's value from several sources. Estimates may apply to the retail price, private party price, or trade-in price.
Step 4

Take the car to a car dealer

Take the car to a car dealer or mechanic and ask how much it is worth to get a more accurate quote if you plan on doing a trade-in.
There were approximately 254 million vehicles registered in the U.S. in 2007.