Unlock Kelley Blue Book Retail Value: How Dealer Consignment Works in Your Favor

Kelley Blue Book Knows Where Cars Sell for the Most

When it comes to selling your car, everyone turns to Kelley Blue Book (KBB) as the gold standard for vehicle valuation. Whether you're trading in, selling privately, or browsing dealer lots, KBB helps guide pricing expectations based on millions of real-world transactions.

But there’s a crucial insight many private sellers overlook:

Kelley Blue Book confirms that used vehicles sell for the most money at dealerships - not through trade-ins or private party deals.

Here’s what KBB says:

"If you're buying a used car at a dealership, start with the Typical Listing Price. It gives you an idea of the asking prices you might see on a dealer's lot."

Translation? Dealerships operate in the retail market - and that’s where vehicles consistently command the highest resale prices.

The Three Ways to Sell Your Car - and What You’ll Get

Let’s break down the three ways to sell your vehicle - and how they relate to your final sale price:

Selling Method    Market Type     Typical Value 

Trade-In                 Wholesale         Lowest

Private Party         Consumer         Mid-Range

Consignment        Retail                  Highest       

If you trade in your car, the dealership must resell it to make a profit - so you're getting a wholesale price. If you sell it privately, you might do better, but it’s harder to attract serious buyers, and many won’t pay retail to an individual they don’t know.

Dealer Consignment = Retail Value Access for Private Sellers

Now here’s the ah-ha breakthrough:

With consignment, you retain ownership of your vehicle - but let a licensed dealership professionally market and sell it for you, at full retail pricing.

You’re tapping into the same retail platform that Kelley Blue Book refers to when it quotes the Typical Listing Price - but without trading in your car or settling for a low ball cash offer.

Here’s why this works so well:

✅ Retail Value - Your car is reconditioned and marketed like a dealer-owned vehicle.

✅ Dealer Expertise - They handle pricing, negotiations, inspections, paperwork - everything!

✅ Buyer Trust - Shoppers prefer the protection and reputation of licensed dealers.

✅ More Exposure - Your vehicle is listed on major marketplaces that private sellers often can’t access.

Kelley Blue Book Proves the Point

Let’s revisit what KBB says:

"The Kelley Blue Book® Private Party Value tends to be a little lower than the used car Fair Purchase Price because a private party doesn’t have all the costs associated with running a dealership."

But what if you work with a specialized dealership instead of selling to one?

That’s what consignment allows - combining your car with their sales power, pricing systems, and customer confidence to achieve a retail-level sale that private sellers can rarely reach on their own.

Ready to Sell for More? Let’s Get You Retail Value

If you're a private owner looking to get the most money possible for your vehicle, Retail My Ride can help.

We match you with a trusted local dealership that specializes in consignment sales - so you keep ownership while they market and sell your car for top dollar.

👉 Get Matched Now with a trusted 'Consignment Pro' dealer near you. It’s fast, free, and there’s zero obligation.

Still Have Questions?

Talk to one of our consignment experts first—we’ll walk you through everything.

📞 Call us: 833-795-2277 (CARS)
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