Black Book Car Values

What are Black Book car values? The Black Book was first established in 1955 by a group of three businessmen from Gainesville, Georgia. While none of these men were technically in the auto industry, they loved cars and attended public auctions to gain increased knowledge of used car values.

Canadian Black Book Car Values

Fifty-three years later, the Black Book is still utilized by some dealerships to put a value on a used car that a person wants to trade-in. They also utilize the Black Book to put a retail price on the used cars that they want to sell. Currently, the only financing source that requires a dealership use a Black Book value is GMAC. Other financial institutions prefer Kelley Blue Book or NADA values.

Anyone can use Black Book car values including individuals, used car lots, and dealerships. However, the Black Book does not offer their services for free. A visit to the Black Book website will give you all sorts of sources and two payment options, but unlike NADA and Kelley Blue Book, you can’t get a value for free unless you pay for it.

You can subscribe to the following in book form or Internet form. Each subscription includes all four resources:

1. Black Book Daily – This publication updates used car values daily. Keep in mind that if you purchase the book form, you will also have the option to look at the daily updated values on the Internet. The annual book that is published contains over 18,000 used car models dating back fifteen years. It is also available as a weekly update for a lower cost.
2. Black Book Finance Advance – Currently, since GMAC is the only lender that recognizes Black Book used vehicle values, this publication will tell you what GMAC will lend on a certain year, make, and model vehicle.
3. Black Book Activator – Certain dealerships or used car lots that sign up for Black Book resources can opt into this program. With this option, you can browse a dealer’s inventory on the Internet.
4. Handheld, Internet Data, and Custom Solutions – If you want Black Book values on your SmartPhone, BlackBerry or other on-the-go device, this Black Book resource is great when you’re car shopping and not near your PC or laptop.

• One Year Subscription Updated Daily – The cost of this service as of 2009 is $397 annually for the book publication and the Internet source. Only the Internet source is updated daily.
• One Year Subscription Updated Weekly – The current 2009 cost for the weekly update publication is $298. Again, only the Internet will give you weekly updated prices.

It’s important to note that unless you are a licensed used car lot or a licensed auto dealer or dismantler (junkyard), you will not be purchasing the same Black Book version that they receive. While the Black Book does tell you it will give you a wholesale or trade-in value and a retail value of any used car, the dealer’s Black Book book will have lower prices. Why do they do this?

If you want to use your car as a trade-in at a dealership or used car lot and buy another car, new or used, they’ll use the wholesale value in their book to determine what your car is worth. Never expect to get retail price for your trade-in. Once vehicles are traded-in, dealerships and used car lots have to inspect, repair, and put in what is called reconditioning costs. Those costs are not included in the consumer Black Book, but are considered in the dealer Black Book; hence the difference in prices.

The Black Book is a good tool to use to get a retail value for your vehicle if you plan to sell the vehicle on your own. Consumer wholesale or trade-in Black Book car values should only be used as a guideline.

If you do visit a dealership or used car lot that utilizes the Black Book, ask to see the page they are obtaining their information from and compare it to your Black Book resource. Keep in mind that Black Book car values are not free and the consumer book is not the same as the dealer publication.

For quick and free used car resources, explore the many LoveToKnow Car articles on car values and guides on buying used cars for important information about choosing your next car and determining its true value.

• Buying Guide for Used Cars
• Used Car Checklist
• Classic Car Blue Book
• Cheap Used Cars Online
• Parker's Car Buying Guide

• History of Ford Vehicles
• Design a Virtual Car
• How to Drive Step by Step
• Driving Test Theory Questions
• Custom My Car

• Black Book Car Values
• Girl Car Accessories
• Teach Me How to Drive a Manual Car
• How Much Does My Car Weigh
• Family Car Stickers

• Classic Car Values
• Old Car Values
• Classic Car Blue Book
• Canadian Used Car Values
• Budget Rental Car Sales