About the Company
For a century, Kelley Blue Book has been the trusted authority on car values and car shopping — built on a simple idea from our founder that buyers and sellers deserve fair, transparent pricing.
Company details
The essentials about who we are and how we operate.
Leslie Kelley
1926, Irvine, California
Irvine, California, USA
Automotive valuation & marketplace
1,000+
KBB-2026-001147
Our founder
The vision that started it all.
Kelley Blue Book was founded by Leslie Kelley in 1926. What began as a small operation publishing the values of the cars he wanted to buy for his dealership grew into the most recognized name in vehicle valuation. His commitment to honest, data-driven pricing remains the foundation of everything the company does today — guiding millions of buyers and sellers each year toward confident decisions.
What we deal in
The products and services we provide across the car ownership journey.
New & used car valuations
Trusted price values and expert estimates for thousands of new and pre-owned vehicles.
Dealer & private-seller sales
A marketplace connecting buyers with franchise dealers and private sellers nationwide.
Instant cash offers
Get a real, redeemable cash offer for your current car in minutes.
Research & reviews
Expert reviews, specifications, and side-by-side comparisons across every major brand.
Auto repair pricing
Fair repair and maintenance cost estimates plus service scheduling.
Financing & trade-in tools
Loan, lease, and trade-in calculators to prepare for the final purchase decision.
Milestones
A century of trusted car shopping.
Leslie Kelley founds the company with a list of vehicle values.
The Blue Book becomes available to the general public.
The brand launches one of the first automotive websites.
Celebrating 100 years as the trusted experts in car shopping.
Our business license
We operate as a fully licensed and registered company. A copy of our current business license is shown below.
