How Much Is My Car Worth

When you are ready to sell or trade in your old car, determining just how much your car is worth is crucial to assure that you have the current fair market value in mind before you begin negotiating with potential buyers or car lot salesmen. Chances are a potential buyer has a good idea what your car is worth on the current market, especially if it is an antique car or a collector car. But even regular used car values can fluctuate during certain seasons, so understanding the current market value of your vehicle requires researching multiple sources.

Thanks to the internet, this no longer mget some answers, since all same the resources are available for free on line.

Popular Car Pricing Guides

Numerous websites offer general guides for used cars that are no more than 30 years old. To use these features, you will want to have some information at hand about the car you want to sell to enter into their forms to get an accurate estimate. Be sure you know the make (Toyota, Ford, etc.) the model (Camry, Ranger, etc.), the year it was built and the zip code where you are planning to sell it.

For some models, you will also need to know the mileage, the size of the engine, what factory equipment it has installed and any custom features that have been added. To determine how to rate the condition of your car, refer to the charts provided with each car guide to be sure your meet their criteria.

One of the most well known used car value guides is the Kelley Blue Book, which is why so many people refer to the "Blue Book Value" of a vehicle. Their service provides the most detailed information and even helps you determine the variations in asking price that depend on whether you plan to sell it to a private party, trade it in for a new car or sell it directly to a car dealer. Keep in mind that trade-in values are always the lowest since it traditionally the easiest way to sell newer model used cars.

If you do decide to trade-in your car, make sure the dealership handles that model to get the best possible trade-in price.

The NADA Guides are also popular, but they return a more general price than the Kelley Blue Book. For one thing, their rating system does not include any prices for a private party transaction. So if you want to sell your used car to an individual, this guide will not give you an accurate resell rate.

Once you have entered the basic search criteria in their forms, the NADA Guides will give you a chart that shows you the base price for a rough trade-in, an average trade-in, a clean trade-in or a clean retail.

Another internet site that offers free local comparison listings is AutoTrader.com. Their site actually has a category you can select called simply "What's my car worth?" But after you have filled out all the forms and answered all the detailed information, you just get referred back to the NADA chart which only has trade-in values.

Comparison Listings

Once you have a base price in mind from your initial research, you can use other Internet resources, such as Vast.com where you an enter region where you plan to sell along with the make, model and color of the your used car. The site will show you a listing -- with pictures -- of other used cars that meet the same criteria in your areas so you can see how much other people are asking for comparable automobiles. The listings also includes a lot of detailed information like the mileage of the car, how many miles per gallon it gets and what kind of transmission and engine are included.

By comparing the price ranges with the features, you can get a good idea about what kind of prices people in your area are currently paying.

Another comparison site is eBay motors which also requests that you enter the basic information -- including your zip code -- regarding the old car you want to sell. The first page that responds to your request shows you how many cars of that basic description are for sale in your area and what kind of price range is currently being offered by other sellers. They also include the Kelley Blue Book value, and even include information on how many have sold on eBay recently and the range of prices -- which I was surprised to see down to $100 dollars for many used cars.

So be warned that choosing to sell your used car on eBay motors does not necessarily mean you will fetch a market price.

Location and Seasonal Considerations

One of the more subtle aspects of selling a used car for top dollar is to consider the season and the geographical aspects of the area where you plan to sell it. For instance, if you have an older 4-wheel drive SUV that you want to sell because it is a gas guzzler, you would be wise to wait until until the summer season is over, when most people use their vehicles for long vacations.

Wait until the demand is high, like right before winter weather sets in or hunting season begins. You have a lot better chance of finding interested buyers when there is ready-made market that is looking for kind of vehicle you are trying to sell.

If you decide to sell your used convertible after you have realized how uncomfortable it is in a hot area, the chances of someone buying it locally are slim. If you take the effort to list it in another region, like a place that has scenic mountain roads, you can fetch a much better price. Even if you require a 'middle man' to show and test drive the car with perspective buyer, the additional revenue can still make it worth the effort.

Pricing Antique Cars and Vintage Cars

The value of classic cars are quite variable, and in the world of vintage automobiles, older does not necessarily mean better. For example, the current trend for restored cars is models from the 1950s to the 1980s, like Mustangs and Corvettes. But selling an old fixed up Studebaker or a foreign classic like a Rolls Royce Cornice can be very tricky unless you know a lot about the vintage car market.

One of the main reasons that classic cars do not hold their value is because replacement parts can be very difficult -- if not impossible -- to obtain, therefore they are not considered "practical" investments. The market for classic cars is, however, greatly influenced by trends, and many times cars will increase in value suddenly if they become the favorite of a particular generation.

Although the aforementioned Kelley's Blue Book will quote you a price on a classic car back to 1979, they do not figure in any 'sentimental' value and their price estimates can be misleading. NADA, however, has partnered with AutoTrader Classics and created an online version of "The Gold Book," which has been the classic car resource since 1968. They have an appraisals and inspections form that you can complete to get an estimate, or you can use their reference links to appraisal companies that specialize in your classic make and model.

You will also find it worth the effort to visit classic car websites like Edmunds where they offer a free quote service based on the make, model and region where you are selling. The price quotes are rather general, but they do include photos and videos so you can see your what kind of competition is on the market and what shape it is in. If you chose to list your car with their site, you can benefit from their search engine which lets prospective buyers view your car.

Another site to check with to get an idea of a classic car's value is Hemmings, where you can view their classified section to see if a car comparable to yours is listed. You can also sign up for their forums, where you can have interactions with collector car enthusiast who are aware of current trends and can give you a good idea of the current market value. They can also direct you to speciality websites that help find buyers for classic cars, though there is often a commission or sign up fee related with such services.

Appraisal Companies

Some auto appraisal websites, such as the Auto Appraisal Network offer contact forms where you can sign up for a free appraisal, but you will have to pay a fee if you want more than a ballpark figure since they are selling their expertise instead of making commissions off of used car sales. Some appraisal companies, like Accurate Value offer a flat fee -- they charge $50 -- to perform a professional appraisal.

You can find more information about car values here: how much is my car worth? That site has answers to lots of other car related questions too. Another good resource is how much is my car worth? Check it out.