Bob Kelley, publisher of Kelley Blue Book, dies at 96 (2024)

FAQs

What happened to Kelley Blue Book? ›

Kelley Blue Book's car prices were so commonly used by dealerships that the term "Blue Book" became a part of dealership lingo, and many car shoppers eventually adopted it as well. In 2010, Kelley Blue Book was acquired by Autotrader, and the brands now are closely interconnected under the Cox Automotive umbrella.

Transactions for older vehicles are too rare, therefore we do not have enough data to analyze and are unable to report values for them. Why aren't your vehicle values reflective of my market area? Kelley Blue Book understands the importance of providing pricing that is geographically relevant to dealers and consumers.

Since 1926, Kelley Blue Book has been one of the most trusted names in the auto industry.

“Fair” condition means that the vehicle has some cosmetic defects that require repairing and/or replacing and requires some mechanical repairs. The paint and bodywork may require refinishing and body repair. The engine compartment has leaks and may require a tune up. This vehicle may have some repairable rust damage.

Kelley Blue Book is a Cox Automotive brand.

Potential problems with Blue Book values include a delay as price information is assessed, the consumer tendency to overrate the value of the car they are selling or trading in, and a mismatch between wholesale values listed by Kelley and the prices used by dealers, who access special industry-only pricing info.

The accuracy of KBB values can vary depending on several factors, such as the condition of the vehicle, its location, and the current market demand for that particular make and model. KBB values are based on a number of factors, such as the car's make, model, year, mileage, condition, and features.

Kelley Blue Book provides values for used vehicles up to 21 years old. Transactions for older vehicles are too rare, therefore we don't have enough data to analyze and are unable to report values for them. If you have questions, please contact our Customer Service Department at 1-800-258-2005, option 2.

If your car has been totaled due to a car accident, you might expect to get paid Kelley Blue Book value for your car. While it is a reasonable assumption to make, the insurance company does not use Kelley Blue Book to determine the value of your car.

A wary buyer should use as a general rule of thumb that most cars are driven 12,000-15,000 miles per year. If a vehicle is 10 years of age, it should have between 120,000 miles and 150,000 miles on the odometer.

Is Nada or KBB more accurate? ›

KBB factors in the condition of the vehicle, local market conditions, and popularity of the vehicle, so their prices tend to be a lower than NADA. NADA values tend to lean higher because they assume cars are in good conditions. Insights can be gained from both values, but KBB looks at more factors.

Examples of vehicles in poor condition are ones with severe mechanical issues, substantial cosmetic defects, a branded title (such as salvage or flood) and so on. Learn how Kelley Blue Book determines vehicle price information.

Do you still sell the printed editions of Kelley Blue Book? No. For over 90 years, Kelley Blue Book published Used Car Guides providing values for used cars and trucks.

Lag – It takes time for data and analysis to make its way through KBB. Prices listed may not always reflect the very latest trends and economic conditions. Consumer bias – Most people think the car they are selling or trading in is in better condition than it really is.

You may need to clear cache and cookies, close your browser and try again. If this fails to resolve the problem, then there may indeed be something wrong with KBB.com, and you can use the feedback form to report the issues. A Kelley Blue Book Customer Support representative will respond to your query.

Black Book has been providing vehicle data and insights since 1955 and is a competitor to Kelley Blue Book. Dealers often use Black Book as a source to determine the used car price an owner might receive for their vehicle as a trade-in.

KBB factors in the condition of the vehicle, local market conditions, and popularity of the vehicle, so their prices tend to be a lower than NADA. NADA values tend to lean higher because they assume cars are in good conditions. Insights can be gained from both values, but KBB looks at more factors.

The Kelley Blue Book value is one of the oldest resources around for determining the value of your used vehicle. Unfortunately, with the ever-changing market today the used car blue book value that you are getting may not be accurate.