How to Price a Used Car

Most car consumers reference a book value to determine what a used car is worth. These numbers are just ballpark though and not a strict guide. Actually some of the books are off by thousands of dollars. Kelly Blue Book is typically too high for regular car values and too low for collector cars. Those values are not based on sold prices of real cars, but are theoretical values.

Another way to determine used car value is to see what everyone else is paying for the same car. You can look on websites to see what people are asking for the cars, but not see actual selling price. Dealers have access to software that allows them to see the actual sales prices of every type of vehicle sold at dealer auctions across the country. But you have access sold prices of cars as well by using eBay. Search the completed listings to find the sold price. You can even look at reserve auctions where the car didn't sell and see how high the car was bid. Whatever it was bid up to, is what the car is worth.

Now you have documented sales for all types of vehicles and have serious leverage against a seller for the vehicle you're interested in buying. Show them what that car has been selling for on eBay and then start negotiating. Some may not want to haggle but keep at it and someone will jump on the price you're willing to buy for.