We research all brands listed and may earn a fee from our partners. Research and financial considerations may influence how brands are displayed. Not all brands are included. Learn more.

Published: Jan 07, 2016
Older car for sale
Alan Powdrill—Getty Images

Head to Kelley Blue Book or Edmunds to get the "book value" of your vehicle. These estimates provided can be customized to show the return you’re likely to get selling it yourself or by trading it in at a dealership.

The actual price you'll get may differ by hundreds or even thousands of dollars from the book value, for a range of reasons including the car’s condition, the season, the area you live in, and buyer demand for used vehicles and your vehicle in particular. So it’s worthwhile to research asking prices for cars similar to yours, both online and at local lots in your area. This will help you better gauge the true market price and demand in your neck of the woods.