Black Book Values Vs. J.D. Power

J.D. Power has cemented a reputation for professionally accumulating and analyzing data in the best interest of consumers. For the automotive field, verifiable & unbiased information of real-world experiences endured by real vehicle owners is gathered through surveying the market from the third month to the third year of vehicle ownership.

The feedback generated from verified vehicle customers is used to segment the car market by price & size to create car ratings.

J.D. Power Score Classifications

Best (91-100)

• Models within the "best" classification are the highest rated within their category according to their owner

Great (81-90)

• Models belonging in the "great" classification didn't rate high enough to be considered for the top of their category, but were better than the average ratings within their category

Average (70-80)

• Models within the "average" classification earned a par score within their category
• As a benchmark, the average 100-Point Score is settled at 80 for the most recent model year, and older models usually experience a lower average rating than 80

On top of all that, serving consumers with a fuller understanding of car pricing and value, our J.D. Power Verified Fair Price is a dependable indicator that one is not overpaying for the desired vehicle. Using the purchasing information from over 12 million retail transactions each year, we keep close tabs on the average price and the price range paid by the majority of the people. Dealers who qualify will have the J.D. Power Verified Fair Price badge applied! Seeing that badge grants the assurance that the price is close to the average in that region.

You can read more about our ratings methodology here, and Verified Fair Price here.

Black Book Values focuses on data points that can help lenders and dealers better identify vehicles with lower risks and higher potential profitability. Their pricing and value data includes statistical analysis that allows for current and time-sensitive changes in historical valuation to be easily understood resulting in reliable predictors of values and potential risks.

The driving force behind Black Book’s valuation process is an understanding of what drives the auto market as a whole as well as what factors help set vehicle specific values. This includes essential data points like how key attributes such as mileage, maintenance records, model, year, and trim options affect value. Beyond those core attributes, Black Book Values are affected by industry trends, depreciation rates and curves, future predictions, and much more.

These future predictions differentiate Black Book Values in the fact that they are not only providing current pricing information, but are offering a look at how specific vehicles will be valued in the future. When making residual value predictions, the company will weigh factors such as year-to-year model and design changes, historical understanding of a make or model’s market performance, economic factors, and much more. This data analysis allows dealers and lenders to manage and better calculate their lending and inventory risks.

By providing current car values as well as forecasting predictions, Black Book Values is uniquely positioned as an one-stop-shop for businesses that need to accurately manage and weigh risks associated with their physical inventories and lending obligations.