Black Book vs. Blue Book Trade-In Valuation

Have you ever wondered how car dealerships decide what to offer you when you’re selling or trading in your vehicle to them? They will use Blue Book or Black Book values, though these values are not the same and will provide different insights– therefore, different trade-in value meanings for a particular model in the same area. 

So what is Black Book value? What about Blue Book value? Find out below with the finance specialists at Spitzer Honda DuBois!

What is Blue Book Value?

Whether you’ve used our online trade-in calculator or traded in your car before in Clearfield, you’ve likely used a trade-in valuation provided by Kelley Blue Book. These valuations are known as “Blue Book” trade-in valuations. Because they are free, they are used by many drivers. It ranks cars into four categories: excellent, good, fair, and poor. 

That said, Blue Book valuation is sometimes on the higher end of what’s considered normal or fair, especially when buying a new vehicle. Similarly, if you’re trying to value your trade-in near St. Marys, you may not get as much as the Blue Book valuation suggests. This can be frustrating and misleading if you expect to get back more money than how much your car is worth. 

What is Black Book Value?

Now that you know what Blue Book is, what is Black Book value then? Black Book trade-in valuation is more commonly used by car dealers, including us at Spitzer Honda DuBois. That’s because Black Book values factor in more updated information about car transactions than Kelley Blue Book. In fact, Black Book updates the dealer invoice and MSRP of vehicles weekly, so there’s a higher chance that the valuation is more accurate. 

Black Book vs. Blue Book Trade-In Value Meaning

In short, Black Book and Blue Book trade-in value meanings are different. Here is a summary of the Black Book vs. Blue Book differences:

• Black Book: Used more by dealers. Provides more accurate up-to-date information (especially with new car pricing) because of weekly MSRP & dealer invoice updates.
• Blue Book: Used more by consumers because it’s free. Offers a grading scale for vehicle conditions from poor to excellent. 

Learn More About Car Trade-In Process with Spitzer Honda DuBois

Whether this is your first time trading in a car near Philipsburg or you’d like more tips on getting the best offer, feel free to contact us! We’re always interested in buying quality used cars in DuBois, so if you want a smooth sailing process, then come by for an appraisal!