Lookup car value by vin kelley blue book

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Lookup car value by vin kelley blue book

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Kelley Blue Book is the trusted resource to find everything you need to value your car and find your next one. We offer trusted and timely car valuations, valuable comparison tools, shopping recommendations, unbiased car reviews, a robust mobile site optimized for smartphones, and much more.

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Our History

Since 1926, Kelley Blue Book has been one of the best-known names in the auto industry in the North America. Today, Kelley Blue Book extends the tradition internationally, with trusted values and a reputation for innovation, including resources to help you research, price and shop for the car you’ve been looking for.

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Fair Market Range: What is it?

Lookup car value by vin kelley blue book

To help you buy and sell with confidence, the Kelley Blue Book® Fair Market Range is determined by combining data from MSRP, asking prices, market conditions, and actual transactions (where available), then reviewed and validated by our own local analysts for relevance in your market.

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Lookup car value by vin kelley blue book

  • Vehicle history reports help you make informed decisions when used car shopping.
  • Learn crucial information concerning vehicle maintenance, accidents, mileage accuracy, title status, and more.
  • Reports do not list overall vehicle condition or levels of wear and tear.
  • History reports cost $25 to $40, and sellers often provide them to prospective buyers.
  • Reports do not substitute a comprehensive inspection from a qualified mechanic.

Buying a used car can create a significant amount of stress and anxiety. Handing over your hard-earned money for any automobile is difficult, especially when the vehicle’s past is unknown.

The exterior and interior condition hints at how much care the previous owner provided. Still, looking at visible areas of a vehicle won’t tell you about repairs and routine maintenance or whether it was in a crash.

Used car buyers should review a vehicle history report to discover any hidden issues the car experienced during its time on the road. Continue reading to learn what information is in a vehicle history report and how it can help you make an informed decision about buying a used automobile.

What Is a Vehicle History Report?

A vehicle history report is a collection of records that provide information about a used car that may affect your decision to buy or how much to pay for it. Records or events in the vehicle’s life get collected from thousands of sources. They may help you answer these crucial questions:

  • Ownership: How many people owned this car?
  • Accident(s): Was this car involved in a collision?
  • Mileage: Does the odometer on this car show accurate mileage?
  • Inspections: Has this car had up-to-date inspections?
  • Lemon: Is this car branded a lemon?

What Is on a Vehicle History Report? 

The information on a vehicle history report will help you better understand the used car you’re interested in buying. It will give details into significant events that potential owners should consider, such as:

    • Major Accident
    • Mileage Rollback
    • Multiple Owners
    • Structural Damage
    • Vehicle Service History
    • Lease, Personal, Taxi, or Police Use
    • Total Loss
    • Rebuilt
    • Flood Damage
    • Airbag Deployment
    • Mileage Rollover
    • Salvaged
    • Hail Damage
    • Branded a Lemon
    • Last Reported Mileage
    • Junked
    • State-Owned
    • Length of Ownership
    • Estimated Miles Driven Per Year
    • Not Actual Mileage
    • Recall Information
    • Warranty Information

What’s Not on a Vehicle History Report?

Companies that provide vehicle history reports, such as AutoCheck and Carfax, make efforts to keep their information current. However, reports will only show the latest event submitted to the reporting companies. It’s possible that a vehicle could be wrecked, repaired, and sold before a record of the incident shows up in the databases companies use to compile information.

A report won’t tell you the overall condition of the automobile or its level of wear and tear. For example, the history outline doesn’t indicate that a car’s tires have worn tread or that the rotors need replacing.

Vehicle history reports might indicate a vehicle has only one owner, but they will not name the individual. The information will not provide any insight into the driving habits of previous owners.

When Do You Need a Vehicle History Report?

It pays to be prepared when you’re buying a used vehicle and also when you’re selling one. A vehicle history report can help both used car buyers and sellers.

  • If you’re buying a used car, the information in a report can help you identify any hidden issues with the vehicle, such as previous flooding or other salvage labels.
  • When you are selling a used car, showing a vehicle history report to potential buyers can help ease concerns about the car’s history and, therefore, make it easier to sell the vehicle.

How Do You Get a Vehicle History Report?

Vehicle history reports detail a car’s ownership, title status, accident history, and more. To get a report on a car you want to buy, you’ll typically need to have its 17-digit vehicle identification number, or VIN. Locate the VIN on the driver’s side dashboard near the windshield. Alternatively, you may be able to use the vehicle’s license plate number.

With that number, there are several websites you can visit and check on the vehicle you’re interested in.

Carfax and AutoCheck are leaders in the vehicle history reporting industry. Access AutoCheck’s service through our site for easy assistance.

Use the National Insurance Crime Bureau’s free VINCheck database to see if a car has been reported stolen or if it’s a salvage vehicle. Most consumers should avoid purchasing an automobile that has ever been stolen or has a salvage record. You’ll want to steer clear of any vehicles with a flood history.

How Much is a Vehicle History Report?

Vehicle history reports usually cost between $25 and $40, depending on the service you use. Most providers offer discounted packages for reports on multiple automobiles while you’re car shopping.

Some dealerships and online auto marketplaces (like our sister site Autotrader) provide free history reports on used vehicles for sale.

RELATED ARTICLE: Car Maintenance Guide: Everything You Need to Know

What’s Next?

Take another test drive to get a feel for things. For example, you might detect an issue that happens only when the car gets driven on the highway. Also, remember to listen to your gut. If something doesn’t seem right, step away from the deal.

Use information from the history report as leverage when you patiently negotiate a fair price.

AutoCheck and Carfax reports have good information to help you during your car-buying process. If the vehicle history report doesn’t show any glaring red flags, you need an independent mechanic to perform an inspection.

Do You Still Need an Inspection?

A vehicle history report does not substitute for a mechanic’s inspection. We believe it’s best practice to obtain a thorough examination from an independent mechanic before you buy a vehicle. A professional can review the automobile to help ensure it does not exhibit any hidden damage.

Find a certified mechanic and give the person a copy of the vehicle’s history report. Qualified technicians will be familiar with the systems that have a tendency for problems. An experienced mechanic’s assessment might cost a hundred dollars or more. The fee will be worth it because their evaluation might discover mechanical issues that keep you from purchasing a car that would cost you much more down the road.

Services such as Alliance Inspection Management’s AiM Certify, owned by Kelley Blue Book parent Cox Automotive, will come to your location and inspect a vehicle. Costs range from $129 to $349, depending on the service inspection you choose.

Related Car Buying and Selling Stories:

  • Buying Used vs. Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles
  • 10 Things to Know Before Buying a Used Electric Car
  • Is Now the Time to Buy, Sell, or Trade-In a Used Car?

Can I find the value of a car by the Vin?

Yes. Simply enter your VIN or license plate into the Carfax History-Based Value look-up tool to get the Carfax Value on your car, truck or SUV. Our unique VIN-specific value report considers reported accidents or damage, number of owners and the car's service history.

How do I find the exact value of my car?

Here are some of the most popular sites:.
Kelley Blue Book. Kelley Blue Book, commonly abbreviated as KBB, is a leading online car value estimator. ... .
Edmunds. ... .
(NADA) National Automobile Dealer's Association. ... .
Trade-in value. ... .
Private resale value. ... .
Certified pre-owned value. ... .
Dealer resale value..

What is the most accurate car value website?

Since 1926, Kelley Blue Book has been one of the most trusted names in the auto industry. You might say we literally "wrote the book on car values". And today there's no better place to find the value of your current car than KBB.com.

Is Kelley Blue Book or NADA more accurate?

For more accurate car pricing, most dealers believe Kelley Blue Book or Edmunds, while NADA can hardly be used for real references.