Knowing your car's true market value is essential before selling. Use this step-by-step guide to price your vehicle accurately with multiple data sources and pro methods.
Sits for weeks, forced reduction, weaker leverage
Leave money on the table, miss true value
Sell faster, less negotiation, attract serious buyers
This guide uses tools + comps + condition + region + history to triangulate a realistic value range. Follow each step to build confidence in your pricing.
Step 1
Step 2
💡 Tip: Record each tool's value (same condition level) in a simple table to average later. Keep condition parity to avoid apples-to-oranges comparisons.
Step 3
💡 Tip: Asking ≠ Selling. This step builds the asking baseline.
Step 4
💡 Tip: Sold prices can differ 5–15% from asking. Use sold data to anchor reality.
Step 5
Step 6
Step 7
Step 8
Step 9
💡 Tip: Clean history can justify a premium; issues may require –10–40%.
Step 10
💡 Tip: Emphasize instant → compare → decide flow.
• KBB Private Party: $22,500
• NADA Clean Retail: $24,200
• Edmunds TMV: $22,800
• Active listings (avg): $23,500
• Recent sold prices: $21,500–22,500
• Low (quick sale): $21,500
• Market (fair): $22,500
• High (excellent/patient): $23,500
• Private party ask: $23,800 (room to land ~$22,500)
• Instant offer (Axel): ~$21,800–22,200 (fast, convenient)
• Trade-in: ~$20,000–21,000 (one-stop simplicity)
Done — you now have a solid value estimate.
| Tool | Best For | Accuracy | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| KBB | Overall consumer benchmark | High | Free |
| Edmunds | True Market Value (TMV) | High | Free |
| NADA | Trade-in & lender metrics | Medium | Free |
| CarGurus | Live market comps | High | Free |
| TrueCar | Recent sales | High | Free |
| Axel Instant Offer | Guaranteed quick sale | High | Free |
| CarFax Report | History verification | N/A | ~$39.99 |
| Professional Appraisal | High-value cars | Very High | $100–200 |
Focus on reliability & records; expect –30–50% below average.
Use Hagerty & auction results; standard tools don't apply; professional appraisal recommended.
Faster depreciation; condition/records crucial; CPO floors matter.
Typically –30–50%; limited buyer pool; full transparency required.
It's a strong benchmark, but always triangulate with Edmunds/NADA, live listings, and recent sold data. No single tool is perfect—use multiple sources to build a realistic range.
Often no (and sometimes decrease). Exceptions exist for well-known performance upgrades on enthusiast models. Most aftermarket parts don't add value and may limit your buyer pool.
Minor accidents may reduce ~10–15%; severe/frame/flood issues can be 30%+. Always disclose accidents—transparency builds trust and helps close deals faster.
Dealers build in reconditioning, warranty, and margin; expect ~20–30% below private party. Trade-in offers convenience but sacrifices value.
Re-check if >30 days have passed, you've added +1,000 miles, new damage/issues occurred, seasonal shifts happen, or market supply/demand changes significantly.
Use this guide to build your true market range, then compare it with an instant offer from Axel — fast, fair, and hassle-free.
Free pickup and same-day payment available in many areas.