Black Book vs. Blue Book Trade-In Valuation

Many St. Marys-area car shoppers are familiar with Kelley Blue Book and their “Blue Book” trade-in values. But, what is Black Book value? You might hear the term used at dealerships in the area, and it’s just another type of trade-in valuation. Compare Black Book vs. Blue Book trade-in valuation with Spitzer Autoworld DuBois Cadillac below to learn more about their different trade-in value meanings.

What is Blue Book Value?

Whether you’ve used our online trade-in calculator or traded in your car before in State College, you’ve likely used a trade-in valuation provided by Kelley Blue Book. These valuations are known as “Blue Book” trade-in valuations. Because they are free, they are used by many drivers. It ranks cars into four categories: excellent, good, fair, and poor. That said, Blue Book valuation is sometimes on the higher end of what’s considered normal or fair, especially when buying a new vehicle. 

Similarly, if you’re trying to value your trade-in near Altoona, you may not get as much as the Blue Book valuation suggests. This can be frustrating and misleading if you expect to get back more money than how much your car is worth. 

What is Black Book Value?

Now that you know what Blue Book is, what is Black Book value then? Black Book trade-in valuation is more commonly used by car dealers, including us at Spitzer Autoworld DuBois Cadillac. That’s because Black Book values factor in more updated information about car transactions than Kelley Blue Book. In fact, Black Book updates the dealer invoice and MSRP of vehicles weekly, so there’s a higher chance that the valuation is more accurate. 

Black Book vs. Blue Book Trade-In Value Meaning

In short, Black Book and Blue Book trade-in value meanings are different. Here is a summary of the Black Book vs. Blue Book differences:

• Black Book: Used more by dealers. Provides more accurate up-to-date information (especially with new car pricing) because of weekly MSRP & dealer invoice updates.
• Blue Book: Used more by consumers because it’s free. Offers a grading scale for vehicle conditions from poor to excellent. 

Learn More About the Car Trade-In Process with Spitzer Autoworld DuBois Cadillac 

We believe in fair, transparent transactions at our dealership in Dubois. If you bring your vehicle to us for trade, feel free to ask questions about its Black Book vs. Blue Book valuation! We want you to have all the information to make an empowered decision. Contact us to start a conversation, or just stop by whenever you have the opportunity! We look forward to the chance to work with you.