Kelley Blue Book vs Black Book

If you’ve ever been on the hunt for a used car around New Alexandria, Monroeville, or Irwin, PA, you’ve likely come across the Kelley Blue Book® website. Right alongside it, you may have even heard of the Black Book website.

Both sites have used car valuation at their core. However, as close as they may seem in purpose, these websites are actually quite different.

To help you learn more about the differences between the Kelley Blue Book® vs. Black Book websites, our team at C. Harper Chevrolet East has broken them all down below. Read on—and contact us with any questions!

KELLEY BLUE BOOK® VS BLACK BOOK: WHAT MAKES EACH DIFFERENT

---

Before we get to the true difference between these two sites, let’s take some time to get to know a bit more about them.

The Black Book is used primarily to appraise vehicles based on their vehicle identification number (VIN) for incredibly accurate results. This helps automotive professionals determine the value of any type of car with extreme precision.

The Kelley Blue Book®, on the other hand, is undoubtedly a much more commonly-known valuation site. However, you can use it to do so much more than just find the value of a used car. Alongside being able to see the value of any used car you have your sights set on, you can also do things such as:

• Find your current car’s value
• View vehicle reviews
• View vehicle specs
• Find a vehicle’s history
• Find a local auto shop

While both the Kelley Blue Book® and Black Book were created to help determine the value of a car, the former extends just more of a hand to the everyday driver.

DEALER-DRIVEN VS CONSUMER-DRIVEN: WHICH IS WHICH?

---

With that, we’ve arrived at the biggest difference between the Kelley Blue Book® and Black Book. While they may serve the same purpose, each is designed for a different user.

The Black Book is intended for use by dealers, allowing them to access the most recent values for a car model. They can look at recent auction prices and the car’s current trade-in value, so they know what to charge at their dealership.

The Kelley Blue Book® is a much more consumer-friendly experience. It helps you determine what buyable amount you can expect from each model. Since this site doesn’t use a vehicle’s VIN to identify its value, the Kelley Blue Book® website valuations may not be as precise as those on the Black Book website. However, it’s much more geared toward drivers looking to buy.

From its valuations to all its additional services, it’s clear that Kelley Blue Book® is a consumer-driven site, and much more helpful for drivers looking to buy a used car, or learn more about their favorite model.

FINDING A USED CAR

---

The Kelley Blue Book® website also makes helping find a used car much easier. With its quick and convenient valuation tool, you can find the price of any used car in a matter of minutes. It works for both types of car buyers—those who have a specific model in mind, as well as those who are just starting their search with a bit more uncertainty.

On this site, you can find a used vehicle price by searching for the specific vehicle based on its year, make, model, and mileage you want. Or, you can review a list of used vehicle prices based on the same specifications—or search something broader, like all sedans or SUVs.

No matter what type of vehicle you’re looking for, you’ll be able to find all its information, including values, reviews, and specs, with the Kelley® Blue Book website.