Policy Directive                                                     Issuance Number: FSC 99-26

Food Stamp Certification Manual                     Issuance Date: 11/01/99

From: Ruth Whitney, Director                               Expiration Date: Until Superseded

Subj: Vehicle Valuations

The Food Stamp Section has gathered comments on the use of certain Internet sites versus the NADA book for determining the fair market value of vehicles. This directive provides guidance on the process to use when determining the value of vehicles. This directive applies only to the Food Stamp Program.

At the application interview or at the time of processing a change, the NADA book must be used to determine vehicle value. If the household’s resources exceed the maximum due in part or entirely to the fair market value of the vehicle as listed in the book, then the worker will access one of the free web sites listed below and use the wholesale value. When the wholesale value is not available, a comparable value (i.e. trade-in or loan value) must be used. A copy of the web page showing the vehicle value must be printed and filed in the case record. The free web sites are CarPrices.com, Autopricing.com, Intellichoice.com, Edmunds.com, and Kelley Blue Book (kbb.com). No other web sites will be considered acceptable.

Inquiries to Kissia Nathaniel, Food Stamp Section (501) 682-8286