Car Blue Book Value

Logan · 01-20-2008, 10:37 AM

Quick question...I'm selling my old car now that I don't need it anymore. I found out the blue book value for it, but I'm just curious if you can typically get that full amount when selling it privately. Is that value inflated? Should I offer it up for sale at like 80% of the value? I don't want to ask for too much and scare off my potential buyer. Thanks.

jbergey22 · 01-20-2008, 10:58 AM

You probably want to ask for close to retail value. The potential buyer is likely going to offer you a lower price anyway and you will have to negotiate. If no one is coming to look at the car at close to retail it would then be time to drop the price.

lighthousekeeper · 01-20-2008, 12:30 PM

look at past auctions on ebay. ebay is the great determiner of market value.

MizzouRah · 01-20-2008, 12:55 PM

Trade-in value is usually what's called the "bank value" when say, you're getting a bank loan for a specific car. (pretty close to what it's actually worth according to a bank)

Use retail value and then you can negociate from there.

90% of the time NOBODY pays asking price for a vehicle/motorcycle when going through a dealer or private party.

You charge $5000 (it's worth about $3500 say), someone says, I'll give you $4000 for it, you make $500. Something like that at least.

You can start at retail and then lower from there depending on the amount of calls you're getting for it.

01-20-2008, 12:30 PM	#3
lighthousekeeper College Starter Join Date: Oct 2000	look at past auctions on ebay. ebay is the great determiner of market value. __________________ ...

01-20-2008, 10:58 AM	#2
jbergey22 Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Minnesota	You probably want to ask for close to retail value. The potential buyer is likely going to offer you a lower price anyway and you will have to negotiate. If no one is coming to look at the car at close to retail it would then be time to drop the price.

01-20-2008, 12:55 PM	#4
MizzouRah Hall Of Famer Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Troy, Mo	Trade-in value is usually what's called the "bank value" when say, you're getting a bank loan for a specific car. (pretty close to what it's actually worth according to a bank) Use retail value and then you can negociate from there. 90% of the time NOBODY pays asking price for a vehicle/motorcycle when going through a dealer or private party. You charge $5000 (it's worth about $3500 say), someone says, I'll give you $4000 for it, you make $500. Something like that at least. You can start at retail and then lower from there depending on the amount of calls you're getting for it.

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