Online pricing guides are available for free to consumers. Two major guides are Kelly Blue Book and NADA. Both of these offer free online car valuations. It is wise to use more than one pricing guide, as a price difference as high as $2000-$3000 may be given by different guides.

On the Other: Dealer Pricing

All dealerships have appraisers on-hand to determine the value of your car. The dealer likely uses an in-house appraisal service that is more tailored to the individual car than online guides. The appraisal from the dealer will also be much more detailed and provide an expert's view of the automobile. Make sure to bring a printed report of the appraisal provided by the online guides, as you will be able to compare the guides' price to the dealership offer.

Bottom Line

Your car's value is determined through a number of factors. Vehicle make and model, year of production, condition, added accessories, maintenance records and location all determine what your car is worth. Visiting the pricing guides online is both free and easy, as it provides your vehicles market worth to dealers. Your vehicle is not the only consideration taken when an appraisal is completed; location and the individual dealer will yield different prices.

Source:

NADA Vehicle pricing and information

Kelly Blue Book