Introduction
This calculator estimates what your car is worth right now from the details you enter. It does not pull values from Kelley Blue Book. Enter the model year, the price when new and the mileage, and choose the fuel type, body and brand type. The tool then shows you three car values: trade-in value, private party value, and dealer retail value.
Cars lose value as they age and as miles add up. That drop is called depreciation. The calculator starts with the price of your car when it was new and applies the depreciation rates Argonne National Laboratory measured from used-vehicle values for each fuel type and market segment.2 It then adjusts for mileage and for how used-car prices have moved since those values were collected.
You also get a full breakdown. You can see how much each factor adds or takes away in real dollars, view a chart of value by model year, and read a step-by-step solution that shows every number used. Use it before you sell your car, trade it in at a dealer, or shop for a used car so you know a fair price.
How to use our Kelley Blue Book Value Calculator
Tell us about your car, and this car value calculator shows your trade-in value, private party value, and dealer retail value, plus a full breakdown of what raises or lowers the price.
Model Year: Pick the year printed on your title or registration. The calculator counts the car's age from it.
Price When New: Enter the window-sticker price (MSRP) for the car's trim and factory options, or what was paid for it new. The make, model, trim and options all enter the estimate through this price. For a plug-in hybrid or electric car, take off any federal tax credit it had.
Fuel Type, Body and Brand: Choose gas, hybrid, plug-in hybrid or electric; car or light truck (SUVs, minivans and pickups are light trucks); and a mass-market or luxury brand. Each combination loses value at its own rate.
Current Mileage: Type the number on your odometer. Use the drop-down next to it to switch between miles and km. Low miles add value; high miles take value away.
Repairs Needed: The estimate is for a car in clean condition. If the car needs work, enter what the repairs would cost, and the amount is taken off all three values. Our used car value calculator gives the same estimate.
Calculate: Click Calculate to see your car's value. Use the tabs to switch between trade-in, private party, and dealer retail. Click Reset to go back to the example car.
What Is a Kelley Blue Book Value?
A Kelley Blue Book (KBB) value is a price guide for a used car. It tells you about how much a car is worth right now, based on real sales data from dealers and private sellers. People use it when they sell a car, trade one in, buy one, or check what their car is worth for a loan or insurance. This calculator does not use Kelley Blue Book data. It estimates a value from your car's price when new, age, fuel type, body, brand type and miles.
The Three Car Values
One car has more than one price. The price changes based on who is buying and who is selling.
- Trade-In Value: What a dealer pays you when you swap your car toward another one. This is the lowest price, because the dealer must clean, fix, and resell the car.
- Private Party Value: What a regular person would pay you in a direct sale. It is higher than trade-in, but you do the work of listing the car and handling papers.
- Dealer Retail Value: What a dealer asks for the same car on their lot. It is the highest price, because it includes repairs, cleaning, and a warranty in some cases.
Economic research found that the gap between suggested retail and trade-in values rises from approximately 15 percent for one-year-old cars to more than 50 percent for cars more than ten years old.4 The calculator draws a straight line between those two points and places the private party value halfway between trade-in and retail. That split is an estimate.
What Makes a Car Lose Value
Cars lose value over time. This drop is called depreciation. For a mass-market gas vehicle, Argonne National Laboratory measured a first-year factor of 80.3% and a yearly rate of 11.3%, and for a luxury gas vehicle they are 79.5% and 14.5%.2 In a study of millions of U.S. used-car listings, each extra 10,000 miles lowered a conventional car's retention rate by 4.64%, a hybrid's by 4.67%, a plug-in hybrid's by 4.49% and a non-Tesla electric car's by 5.07%, at the same age.3
Used-car prices have also moved since those values were collected. The consumer price index for used cars and trucks was 141.493 in July 2020, and the index for new vehicles was 147.803.5 In August 2026 the used cars and trucks index was 184.580 and the new vehicles index was 179.715.6 The calculator raises its estimates by how much used-car prices rose relative to new-car prices between those two months.
Main Things That Change Car Value
| Factor | How It Works |
|---|---|
| Age | Older cars are worth less. Each model year cuts the price. |
| Mileage | Most drivers put on about 12,000 miles a year. Low miles add value. High miles take it away. |
| Condition | Dents, stains, worn tires, and engine trouble lower the price a lot. |
| Fuel Type | Gas, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles lose value at different yearly rates. |
| Brand and Body | Mass-market and luxury brands, and cars and light trucks, lose value at different rates. |
| Trim & Options | A higher trim or more options raise the price when new, and the value falls from that price. |
| Location | Trucks and SUVs bring more in cold or rural areas. Small cars do better in cities. |
How to Get More Money for Your Car
- Keep service records. Proof of oil changes and repairs builds trust.
- Clean the car inside and out before photos or an offer.
- Fix cheap problems, like burnt bulbs, worn wipers, or a check engine light.
- Sell it yourself if you have time. Private sales usually pay more than trade-ins.
- Get more than one offer. Dealer bids can be hundreds of dollars apart.
Keep in Mind
A blue book value is an estimate, not a set price. The real amount you get depends on your car's history report, accident record, tire life, and who wants that car in your area at that time. Use the value as a starting point when you talk price.