How to Price Your Car Competitively Using KBB Edmunds & NADA

You’re sitting there thinking

“How much is my car even worth”
“Am I asking too much”
“Or worse — am I giving it away”

Been there
It’s awkward when buyers either laugh at your price
Or snatch the keys too fast because you underpriced it

Here’s exactly how to price your car competitively using KBB Edmunds & NADA
So you don’t leave cash on the table
Or scare off buyers

I’m Myriam
I paint faces for a living
And I’ve sold enough cars to know the sweet spot between greedy and stupid

Why Price Your Car Right?

Because buyers are like goldfish
Too high — they swim away
Too low — they think something’s wrong

And you want it gone fast
But for the most money possible

That’s where these three sites save your bacon
✅ Kelley Blue Book (KBB)
✅ Edmunds
✅ NADA Guides

How to Price Your Car Competitively Using KBB Edmunds & NADA Step by Step

Here’s my method
And yes it actually works

Step 1: Gather The Facts About Your Car

You can’t price what you don’t understand
Write down:
✅ Make
✅ Model
✅ Year
✅ Trim level
✅ Mileage
✅ Colour
✅ Optional extras
✅ Condition (be honest here)

If it’s got dings and smells of old kebab
Don’t call it “excellent”
That will only backfire later

Step 2: Check Kelley Blue Book (KBB)

Go to KBB.com
Plug in your car’s details
It spits out:

• Trade in value (what a dealer might pay you)
  
• Private party value (what you can get selling yourself)
  
• Suggested retail (what they’d list it for on a lot)
  

You want the private party value if you’re selling directly

Step 3: Check Edmunds

Head to Edmunds.com
Their True Market Value (TMV) is brilliant
It uses actual sales data and local market trends
Sometimes KBB is a touch optimistic
Edmunds keeps you grounded

Compare their number to KBB’s
If they’re close — good
If they’re miles apart — split the difference

Step 4: Check NADA Guides

Visit NADAguides.com
NADA tends to favour the seller
Their numbers can be higher
It’s worth looking though — especially if your car is rare or in great nick

Now you’ve got three numbers
Average them
Or pick a number in the lower middle if you want it to sell quickly

Step 5: Check Your Local Market

This is the secret sauce
Go on AutoTrader
eBay Motors
Facebook Marketplace
See what people are actually paying in your area
If everyone else is asking £6000 and you list at £7500 — good luck

My Personal Story With Pricing

I once listed a Golf at £8500 because KBB said so
It sat there for two months
No calls
Dropped it to £7900 after checking Edmunds and looking at local listings
Sold in two days

Moral of the story — don’t just pick the highest number and pray
Price to sell

Quick Tips To Nail Your Price

☑ Be brutally honest about condition
☑ Use clear photos to back up your price
☑ Leave a little room to negotiate — buyers love to feel clever
☑ If you’re in a rush to sell — price slightly under market
☑ If you’re patient — aim closer to the top end

FAQs About How to Price Your Car Competitively Using KBB Edmunds & NADA

Do these sites work in the UK?

No — they’re US based. But you can use the same approach here with AutoTrader, Parkers, and WBAC as equivalents.

Should I price higher to leave room for negotiation?

Yes — but not too much. About £200–£500 above your bottom line is smart.

What if my car is rare or modified?

Use the guides as a baseline but check enthusiast forums and local sales for a more accurate idea.

How often should I lower my price if it doesn’t sell?

If you’ve had no serious interest in 2–3 weeks — time to adjust.

Is trade in value really that bad?

It’s lower than private sale because dealers need to make a profit. But it’s faster and hassle free.

Final Word On How to Price Your Car Competitively Using KBB Edmunds & NADA

If you follow this guide on how to price your car competitively using KBB Edmunds & NADA
You’ll know exactly where to set your number
You’ll attract real buyers
And you won’t be stuck with tyre kickers offering you peanuts

Price it smart
Be honest
And watch it sell