March 2, 2019

What is the Kelley Blue Book?

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If you’re a car owner or are currently looking to trade a used vehicle, we’re almost certain that you’re already quite familiar with the Kelley Blue Book. If you’re still trying to figure out what it’s all about, Veteran Car Donations is here to tell you everything you need to know about the handy guide and its importance to the auto industry.

A Brief History

To begin, let’s talk a bit about its origin. The Kelley Company, founded by California native Les Kelley, started as a car dealership in 1918. Eight years later, in 1926, the first ever Blue Book was introduced to the country. The book was merely used as a price guide, with a simple list of automobiles and their corresponding values.

After the publication, Kelley and his family went on with their dealership business in Southern California. It was only until the 1960s when they decided to focus on producing their auto price guide, which led to their company’s major shift from being a car dealership into a specialty publisher. After garnering widespread attention across the country, the Kelley Blue Book launched its website in 1995.

The Kelley Blue Book

The Kelley Blue Book prides itself as being one of the most reliable names in the U.S. automotive industry. Individuals who are planning to buy a new set of wheels, sell their current one, or are just curious about their car’s value, refer to the Blue Book for expert guidance and price comparison. Simply put, it pretty much serves as everybody’s go-to guide for anything automotive.

The values presented by the Kelley Blue Book rely on pricing information from different industry sources, such as independent or franchised dealers, manufacturers, wholesale auctions, financial institutions, and rental companies. For used vehicles, the final values are determined through a proprietary editorial process, each presented on various scales.

Presently, Kelley offers specific guides for used cars, classic cars, and new models. It also provides comprehensive information on RVs, trailers, and motorcycles.

There are actually two guide editions, one for new cars and the other for used cars. They are published twice a year and can be purchased in nearly any bookstore in the country.

Kelley Blue Book Used Car Guide

The Used Car Guide edition provides tables and charts to calculate the car’s value based on its mileage, condition, and other components as well as how such factors affect the vehicle’s overall value. The guide also offers different prices including:

• Trade-in price – what dealers offer in trade value
• Retail price – what you can expect to pay for at a used car dealership
• Private sale price – what you can expect to get from your car from selling it personally to an interested buyer

Additionally, there are two separate books included when you purchase the guide. You can find information on older used cars in one of the books and information on recreational vehicles and motorcycles in the other.

Kelley Blue Book New Car Guide

The New Car Guide edition contains price information on present models, which include the following details:

• Manufacturer’s suggested retail price or MSRP
• Dealer’s cost
• Extra costs
• Pricing schedules with several options for buyers to choose from

Kelley Blue Book Website

Perhaps the most convenient way to research on price details of the latest auto brands is by checking out the KBB website. The site not only provides comprehensive pricing information on cars, RVs, or motorcycles, but it also gives you a number of useful options, such as selling your car, finding local dealers, checking vehicle reviews, and so many more.

Donate an Old Car for a Worthy Cause

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Thinking of getting rid of your barely working car? Hand it over to Veteran Car Donations! If you do so, you’ll be uplifting the lives of our former troops who are suffering from service-connected disabilities, mental health issues, lack of jobs, and homelessness due to poverty.

We will auction off your donated vehicle and use the proceeds to support the programs of our nonprofit partners that cater to our nation’s living heroes. The generated funds will be used to provide needy veterans with mortgage-free and specially adapted homes, free mental health care, employment opportunities, job training, transitioning assistance, tutoring support and education scholarships, financial assistance, and many other benefits.

When you make a donation to us, you’ll not only dispose of an unwanted vehicle for free, but you’ll also get to claim the highest possible tax write-off based on the selling price of your vehicle or its fair market value once we sold it at auction. We’ll even haul it away for free at your convenience. Just let us know when, what time, and where we can pick it up, and our tow truck will be there to do the job.

For more information on our car donation program, check out our FAQs page. For inquiries, you can call our toll-free 24/7 hotline 877-594-5822 or send us a message online.

You can donate to Veteran Car Donations by either calling us or filling out our secure online donation form. We accept donations of nearly all types of vehicles wherever you are in the United States since we have car donation programs in all 50 states.

Get the Highest Possible Tax Deduction!

By using the Kelley Blue Book, you’ll get a clear idea how much your car is worth. We at Veterans Car Donations will do our best to sell your car at its highest possible price, so you can claim the highest possible tax cut from it. Call us at 877-594-5822 and get started with your car donation!

Last Updated: March 8th, 2023