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It is difficult to sell any vehicle; new or old. With so many models to choose from, it is easy for a potential buyer to not know what they are looking for. Most consumers prefer to buy used cars because of the lower risk involved in purchasing an older car, but sometimes things can get complicated when you start talking about buying a used car that is over ten years old.
When you buy a used car, you should be extra careful because even if the vehicle has been well maintained and looked after since day one, it may have some hidden issues which could affect its functionality in the future. To ensure you’re properly valuing your side-by-side, you should probably consult Kelley Blue Book’s UTV section. Is the good Blue Book as reliable for off-road vehicles as it is for regular cars? Let us see if this book is a forgery.
What Is Kelley Blue Book?
For those who are unaware, Kelley Blue Book has been the gold standard for car valuations since 1926. With the number of cars sold, it’s easy to think that this industry is idyllic, but it’s not. Kelley Blue Book has been scrutinized several times and many instances of car dealers inflating prices due to their allegiance to them.
KBB collects used car prices from a variety of sources, including dealers, manufacturers, rental fleets, auctions, and private transactions, rather than doing something absurd. This allows car owners to make an educated decision on their used car prices with the right amount of details.
The information is presented in a standardized format that makes it easy for consumers to compare and contrast vehicles, which is why they’ve become so famous. Consumers can use the information provided by KBB while negotiating their sales price or if they are buying a vehicle outright. Kelley Blue Book is not just limited to cars; it also includes ATVs, trailers, and recreational vehicles (RVs) as well. There are other sources to find price estimations for these vehicles.
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How Accurate Are KBB UTV Values?
Several factors work against UTV Blue Book values regardless of the type of vehicle you’re selling. These are the components:
1. Outdated data: Most of the information collected by KBB is quite outdated. There are several reasons why this data is outdated, and it doesn’t matter that much. The fact remains, so long as you’re trying to determine the price of a vehicle based on its model or whatever you’re trying to compare it to, it’s still going to be inaccurate. UTVs and ATVs are used every day.
It would be extremely helpful if the value would keep up with what people want in a vehicle; however, that’s not always possible because some things depend on their usage. For example, the newer models go for more than the older ones; however, there isn’t necessarily a direct link between price and how desirable the vehicle is.
2. Limited data: KBB’s lack of off-road vehicle data is another downside. The accuracy of the data is nonexistent, which can be frustrating for those who want to make an informed decision based on the information they have. There is no reliable data; you’ll get wildly different numbers depending on what dealer you go to. Who would want to deal with a car if you don’t know what they’ll be asking?
For the most part, the lack of information is a good thing because it allows buyers to make independent decisions. However, there is a downside to the lack of information, and it comes in the form of inaccurate pricing.
Once again, this is another problem with UTV Blue Book values. While some things are agreed to, others aren’t. The reliability of this information will continue to haunt UTV Blue Book values for years to come as long as there isn’t more reliable data collected by companies that can be used for comparison purposes.
3. Consumer bias: Kelley’s prices for off-road vehicles are not always the same as regular cars. This bias is almost unavoidable; you’re going to have to be patient and wait for a few hours for the process to be completed. Several factors will cause the prices to change, and the data is not always correct. By taking the time to check the prices at other sources, it’s possible to discover how relatively cheap or expensive something is. The result is that you’re able to receive a good deal if you find out that someone has overpriced their vehicle.
4. Wrong Data Set: There is a problem with the data in terms of what it contains. It’s possible to get related data sets from research firms and other sites that do a good job of collecting information about the prices of different vehicles. If you’re looking for an off-road vehicle, you’re going to be disappointed because most of the car dealers selling UTVs are going to have no clue what things are worth or not.
Do UTV and ATV Dealers Value KBB?
The answer is no. It’s possible to find out where they get the information from, and it’s not always accurate. By paying attention to what you’re looking at, you’re able to determine how much you have to pay for the vehicle and make sure that it’s within a reasonable range.
On the other hand, regular car dealers will often use book values that are similar to their pricing for a used car. If you talk about buying a used car or even trading in one of your cars, don’t count on going over budget by a large amount. Several things will throw off your negotiating position:
- The same vehicle is priced differently by different dealers.
- The price of a similar model could vary widely as well.
- In some cases, the dealer may ask for more money than the listed value, which means that you have to pay the extra money and it’s not even worth it.
All of this makes it difficult to negotiate a good deal if you do not know what they’ll be asking for your trade-in vehicle or what they’ll be charging you to purchase a used car or UTV. This information is quite valuable no matter what type of vehicle you’re looking at purchasing because there are many differences depending on how expensive the vehicle is and how new it is compared to others in its class.
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Conclusion:
As long as you’re making decisions based on the information you have, you won’t go wrong with KBB values. On the other hand, if you’re not sure whether the vehicle is worth more than what they’re asking for it, then it’s best to wait until the process is over. Also, if there are any problems with a dealer’s salespeople or prices, it’s best to find a different dealer that will treat you better. Don’t be afraid to ask them questions and show them that you’re serious about getting a good deal.
The most important thing to remember is that you’re the one in control and it’s always smart to use your common sense. In some cases, the vehicle you want is going to be priced higher than what they want, but there’s no point in paying more than it’s worth because you’ll end up losing money just so that they can make a quick sale.
