How to Use Edmunds to Calculate a Cars True Market Value

When it comes time to buying a new or used car, prices vary depending on whether you're buying it from a private seller or a car dealership. Edmunds, a much respected in the car industry, offers car buyers a way take the guess work out of car pricing. By using their true market value feature you can confidently negotiate the price of any car.

The good thing about the feature is that it only takes a couple of minutes and it's free. You should not purchase a car without first finding out the car's true market value.

Instructions

1

Visit the Edmonds website and click on the link for the true market value.

2

Insert the year the car was manufactured, the make and the model of the car.

3

Choose the correct vehicle's style. Each car model comes in various styles. Some have five or six styles to choose from some car models only have one or two. Edmonds lists the styles for each model car. To find the true market value all you have to do is choose the style and scroll over to the right to find the corresponding true market value. Keep in mind, however, that the true market value listed at this stage in the process represents the true market value country wide. You need to get the local value for the car.

4

Click on the vehicle style to get Edmunds local true market value. Depending on outstanding inventory, weather conditions and locale, some car models sell better in certain areas than others. For example, a four wheel drive vehicle will probably cost more in the snowy north east than it would in sunny California (supply and demand). Using Edmunds local true market value will give you a better feel for how much you could expect to pay.

5

Add vehicle options for a customized appraisal. Edmunds true market value is based on standard issued car features. If the car you're ready to buy has special features, you should customize the appraisal accordingly. Edmunds true market value report will automatically adjust to incorporate the value for each feature.