Car Values Explained: Retail vs. Trade-In vs. Residual

Author Image
by RateGenius

Understanding your car’s value can be a mystery.

Selling your car can be an exciting experience — especially if you’re upgrading to a newer vehicle. Finding the best price for your car depends on its value, and if possible, how to increase it.

Knowing how car values work can also help you choose your next vehicle so you can find one that keeps its value as long as possible. A vehicle that holds its value may also help your chances of getting approved for auto loan refinancing when interest rates drop.

That’s why it’s so important to understand how used car values are calculated — and what you can do to get yours as high as possible.

2023 Auto Refinance Rates See Today's Rates

What Factors Affect Car Values?

There are several elements that determine how much a used car is worth. These include:

  • Age: How old the car is and if that particular year has any notable mechanical problems
  • Make, model, and trim: Most car models come in several versions, and the upgraded version will be worth more than the standard version
  • Mileage: How many miles the car has compared to the model year
  • Condition: What kind of condition is the car in, both mechanically and cosmetically
  • Title status: Whether the car has a clean title. Cars without a clean title will be hard to sell and almost impossible to refinance.
  • Geography: Some cars are more valuable in some parts of the country. For example, Subarus are more expensive in Colorado than in other states.
  • Accident or flood history: A car that has been involved in an accident or flood will be worth less.
  • Popularity: Some cars are more popular than others, and therefore hold resale value better.

All of these play a role when determining your car’s retail, trade-in, or residual value.

Auto Refinance Calculator Calculate Your Savings

Types of Car Values

There are multiple types of book value. The most common types you’ll come across are retail value, trade-in value, residual value, though there are others.

Retail value

The retail value is the price set by the dealer when selling a used car. It will almost always be higher than the trade-in value because the dealership needs to make a profit when they resell it to another customer.

Trade-in value

The trade-in value refers to how much a dealership thinks your car is worth. If you take a car to the dealership, you can use the trade-in value to reduce the cost of buying or leasing a new car.

Why is trade-in value less than the retail value?

The trade-in value is usually less than the retail value because the dealership is acting as the middleman. In order to make a profit, they need to put a markup on the vehicle before listing it. Many dealerships will also fix up the car before reselling it, which also accounts for the disparity.

Finding a private buyer can be difficult, so some people are willing to give up that extra money for the convenience of selling to a dealership. Always try to negotiate the trade-in value with a dealer. If you have time, take the car to several dealerships to see who offers the highest trade-in value. Dealerships often have special deals where you can get an extra $500 on your trade-in.

Residual value

The retail or trade-in value of a car is based on its specific features, like mileage, popularity, and overall condition. The residual value of a car is how much it will be worth at the end of a lease or balloon loan term.

The residual value is a percentage of the car’s initial price. For example, if a car costs $30,000, and has a 50% residual value after a three-year lease, it will be worth $15,000 at the end of the lease.

Dealerships and lenders use the residual value to determine the monthly payments.  A car with a high residual value will have lower monthly payments because it will depreciate less over the course of the lease. A vehicle with a low residual value will have higher monthly payments because it will depreciate faster. 

Where to find the residual value of  your vehicle

Dealerships and auto lenders use third-party companies like ALG for finding a car’s residual value. Unlike with retail or trade-in value, there is no way to increase the residual value because it’s controlled by a separate company.

You can research a car’s residual value before leasing it. ALG publishes an annual list of the residual values of different vehicles.

How Do I Find My Car’s Value?

If you want to refinance an auto loan or sell a vehicle, you first need to know how much your car is worth.

For starters, you can check valuation tools like Edmunds, Kelley Blue Book, and NADAguides. When you search for the car’s valuation, you need to know its exact mileage, VIN, and condition to get the most accurate price.

If you plan to sell directly to a consumer, you can find a general estimate of the value of your car by checking your car on sites like Autotrader, eBay, and Craigslist. For example, on eBay, you can filter the listings by “sold” to see how much the car has actually sold for. You should also compare the figures by state. Some parts of the country may have higher car prices than other regions.

Some critics find these sites to be overly optimistic when appraising value. To find a more accurate figure, take your car to a couple local dealerships to get their trade-in value.

Can I increase the value of my car?

When selling a car to an individual, the easiest way to increase the trade-in value is by making it as presentable as possible. Take a day to wash the car’s exterior, vacuum the interior, and buff out any scratches. A clean car with no dirt, dog hair or clutter will look more enticing than a car with mud caked on.

Compare Auto Refinance Rates
No impact to credit score.
Shop For Rates Now

Does My Car’s Value Affect My Auto Loan Refinance Approval Odds?

If you have a car loan, it’s important to know your vehicle’s value in order to determine refinance eligibility.

During the refinance application process, your loan officer will ask you some questions to do a bookout, like an appraisal, to get your car’s value. That value will be used to figure out your loan-to-value (LTV) ratio. (This is your car’s value compared to how much you owe on the loan.) In general, your LTV ratio  should be 130% or less to qualify for an auto loan refinance.

Car (LTV) Loan-to-Value Calculator

How much is your current car loan balance?
What's your car's current value?

An LTV over 100% means you owe more on your loan than your vehicle is worth and are upside down on your auto loan.

In some cases, an excellent credit score or low debt-to-income (DTI) ratio may override a high LTV. Sometimes you can put a down payment on the refinance loan to make up for the difference. Your lender or loan officer will offer options if there’s anything else you can do to get approved.

Understand Car Valuation Before Buying or Refinancing

Before you buy a new car, do some research to understand how it will depreciate over time. A car that keeps its value longer is a better buy.

If you already have an auto loan, it doesn’t hurt to keep tabs on your loan payoff, in case you want to refinance.

Ready to refinance your car loan? Find a Better Loan Now

About The Author


RateGenius

A better way to refinance your auto loan. RateGenius works with 150+ lenders nationwide to help you save money on your car payments. Since 1999, we've helped customers find the most competitive interest rate to refinance their loans on cars, trucks, and SUVs. www.rategenius.com


Read More

by RateGenius

Buying a Car Without A Title

When you buy a car, whether new or used, one of the most important documents you’ll need is the title. The title, also known as a certificate of ownership, is proof that you are the vehicle’s legal owner. However, not all cars have titles, which may leave you wondering if purchasing a car without a…

by RateGenius

Does Being a Cosigner on a Car Loan Affect Your Credit?

Before agreeing to cosign on a car loan, it’s important to understand the risks. Doing the favor of cosigning on someone’s auto loan can help them qualify for the car they want — but whether you should cosign isn’t a decision to make lightly. As a cosigner, you’re responsible for…

by admin

Can I Take Over Someone’s Car Payments?

Taking over someone's car payments isn't easy or always possible. Here's what you need to know. Owning a car can be expensive. In fact, the latest data from AAA shows that the average yearly cost to own and operate a new vehicle in 2023 is $12,182 or $1,015 per…

Customer Reviews

Read our 12837 Certified Reviews

4.9

READ OUR REVIEWS

Apply Now

Lower your interest rate and drop monthly payments by an average of $100*/month!


GET STARTED