Black Book vs. Blue Book Trade-In Valuation

If you are shopping for new or used cars for sale in North Hollywood, you may be interested in trading in your current car. The team at North Hollywood Toyota is here to assist you in finding out what your current car is worth. At North Hollywood Toyota we use the blue book value to determine the amount you are given for your trade in. You may also have heard of looking at a vehicle’s black book value. What is black book value and how is it different from the valuation you receive at North Hollywood Toyota? Compare black book vs. blue book value in the guide below. 

What is Blue Book Value?

Trade-in valuation provided by Kelley Blue Book is often referred to as simply the “blue book” value of a car. Many dealerships like North Hollywood Toyota opt for this tool because it is free, requires no monthly payment, and it comes from a trustworthy source in the automotive industry. A vehicle is ranked in four different categories: excellent, good, fair, and poor. Keep in mind that a blue book valuation is often on the higher end of what’s considered normal or fair. When making an offer, dealerships also have to look at demand as well as what other vehicles they currently have in-stock. 

What is Black Book Value?

What is black book value? Some dealerships opt to look at the black book trade-in valuation because in some cases, it provides more up-to-date information about car and truck transactions than Kelley Blue Book. This source is updated on a weekly basis. 

Black Book vs. Blue Book Trade-In Value Meaning

• Black Book: This option is used more by dealers rather than consumers. This source benefits from weekly MSRP & dealer invoice updates.
• Blue Book: This option is used more by consumers because it does not cost anything to use. The grading scale for vehicle condition plus the KBB Instant Cash Offer adds convenience.

See How Much Your Car is Worth Today

If you are ready to shop for new or pre-owned cars for sale in the Sun Valley and Mission Hills area, look no further than North Hollywood Toyota. You can get a quick and fair estimate of what your car is worth thanks to our Kelley Blue Book tool. You can get your KBB Instant Cash Offer in no time! Contact us today with any questions about our new or used cars for sale or about the trade-in process.