Blue Book

Blue Book (Kelley Blue Book)

Key takeaways

• The Blue Book (Kelley Blue Book) provides estimated market prices for new and used vehicles to help buyers, sellers, dealers, and insurers determine fair values.
• It reports multiple value types: private party, trade-in, suggested retail, certified pre-owned (CPO), and new-car price guidance.
• Values are derived from large datasets, regional adjustments, and a proprietary algorithm that accounts for trends, seasonality, and economic conditions.
• Use the Blue Book alongside vehicle history reports, dealer quotes, and other pricing resources for the best results.

What it is

The Blue Book, commonly called Kelley Blue Book, is a widely used valuation guide for automobiles in North America. It summarizes what consumers and dealers are paying for specific makes, models, model years, trim levels, and mileage ranges, offering a fair market range rather than the lowest possible price.

Brief history and ownership

First published in 1926 by Les Kelley as an industry resource, Kelley Blue Book became available to the general public (including online) in the 1990s. The Kelley Blue Book brand is now part of the Cox Automotive family through acquisitions and partnerships.

Value types included

Kelley Blue Book provides several commonly used valuations:
* Private party value — expected price between private buyers and sellers.
* Trade-in value — what a dealer is likely to offer when you trade in a vehicle.
* Suggested retail value — a typical dealer asking price for a comparable vehicle.
* Certified pre-owned (CPO) value — pricing for manufacturer-certified used vehicles.
* New-car pricing — indicators of what consumers are currently paying for new vehicles.
The site also offers ownership-cost estimates (fuel, maintenance, repairs, insurance) and depreciation projections.

How buyers, sellers, and insurers use it

• Buyers use Blue Book ranges to negotiate purchase prices or assess long-term ownership costs.
• Sellers and dealers consult it to set asking prices and trade-in offers.
• Insurers may reference the actual cash value from Blue Book to settle total-loss claims or verify valuations.

How prices are determined

Kelley Blue Book compiles thousands of transaction records, national vehicle registration data, and market inputs. Prices are:
* Adjusted regionally to reflect local market differences.
* Updated frequently (reviewed on a regular basis) to capture current market conditions.
* Calculated with a proprietary algorithm that incorporates historical trends, location, seasonality, mileage, and broader economic factors.
The goal is to reflect the price most consumers currently pay — a market-clearing or going rate — rather than the absolute lowest or highest sale.

Special considerations and additional resources

• “Blue Book” can refer to other unrelated guides (e.g., Social Security publications), so confirm you’re using Kelley Blue Book for vehicle valuation.
• Kelley Blue Book is a leading resource but not the only one. Complement it with other tools such as J.D. Power, Consumer Reports, vehicle history reports (CARFAX, AutoCheck), dealer quotes, and an auto loan calculator when planning financing.
• Values are estimates. Vehicle condition, maintenance history, accident records, and local demand can cause actual prices to differ.

Bottom line

Kelley Blue Book is a trusted starting point for vehicle pricing and ownership-cost estimates. Use its value ranges to set expectations and negotiate, but combine them with inspection results, vehicle history, and local market checks to reach the most accurate valuation.