Are online sources like Kelley Blue Book or Edmunds.com accurate at establishing trade in values?
These sites are good to get a rough idea. We say a rough idea because if they were accurate then they should all agree but they don’t. Their standards for rating condition are different and subjective. Further, none of the sites will actually buy your vehicle for the price they give you. These sites use simple math to determine set depreciation rates. The problem is not all vehicles depreciate at the same rate. Very popular vehicles with higher demand hold their value better. Even within the same vehicle and model there is variation. For instance a purple colored suv is worth less than a sharp black one. Don’t believe us? Try to sell the purple truck! Determining current market value takes expertise and experience. Staying “current” is the trick. We employ a team of buyers whose sole responsibility is to stay current by attending multiple auctions all over the country, consult national dealer only sales data bases and constantly monitor the market for peaks and valleys. Vehicle values
