The Keys to Determining Used Car Values

The key to getting the most accurate used car values is recognizing what is important. Many consumers just look at the car, look for a window sticker and try to haggle a couple hundred dollars off of the price. There is so much more money you can save if you know the true value of the vehicle you are looking at.
Know the history of the vehicle.

Regardless of where you are buying a car from, it is vital that you know the vehicle's history. Everyone that is buying a used car should get a CARFAX Vehicle History Report. There are ways to examine a car and determine if it has possibly been in an accident, but without viewing the vehicle's title, you will not know if it has been rebuilt, salvaged or ever been reported stolen. CARFAX compiles date from a variety of sources including repair shops, dealers and insurance companies to insure that the information they provide is accurate; all their reports are backed by a money back guarantee.
Use Kelley Blue Book, as well as other sources, to price cars.

Many dealers are aware of Kelley Blue Book and use it as a source to price their vehicles. You should use other sources as a consensus to get used car values. Kelley Blue Book and Edmunds are great sites that list what most dealers are selling and paying for used cars. Keep in mind, most dealers do not use these references; they use Black Book. As a consumer, you can't obtain a Black Book, so use the aforementioned sites to get as close to Black Book as you can.
Go even deeper than Kelley Blue Book

You'll find that using Kelley Blue Book will be of great service to you in your search for true used car values. Along with that, you can go deeper and look for some key points in determining used car values. Check for the following when examining a vehicle:

• Exterior Condition: Scratches, dents and paint work are big factors.
• Interior Condition: Look for rips, stains, discoloration and odors.
• Mechanical Condition: Check for cold A/C, firm shifting transmission, firm stopping brakes and proper function of all power equipment.
• Tires: Make sure the tires have good tread depth.
• Mileage: On average, a person usually drives about 12,000 miles a year. You probably don't want a car that has been driven more than that on an average.
• Frame/Flood Damage: This is more for the trained eye, but you can look for these things. Examine the frame rails of the vehicle for clamp marks and closely examine the carpeting of the interior for water stains or smells or mold.