How Do I Find the Value of a Car in the Past?

There are several ways you can find out how much a car cost in the past. This information can be useful for research projects or to determine how much a car has appreciated or depreciated in value, relative to inflation.

Kelley Blue Books

• The Kelley Blue Book is released each year and lists the value of almost every car within the last 10 years of its publication. Purchase a book from the year in question to see how much the car was worth.

Old Newspaper Ads

• Archived ads may contain the answers you seek. newspaper image by Christopher Hall from Fotolia.com

  Several companies offer the ability to view old newspapers online. These online archives include the advertisements and classified ads. Viewing these can help you determine how much a car was worth in the past.

Custom Estimates

• For a fee, you can order a customized estimate regarding the historical value of your car. This estimate will take into consideration the optional features the car may have had as well as the mileage and other quality issues.