Calculate how much your car will depreciate over 1-10 years. Compare new vs used depreciation curves. Free car depreciation calculator.
Cars lose value faster than almost any other major purchase — new vehicles lose 15-25% in the first year alone and 40-60% in the first five years. This depreciation is the single largest cost of car ownership yet most buyers never calculate it. Our calculator shows your expected depreciation curve by make and model type and the actual cost per mile of depreciation.
Average new car depreciation: Year 1: 15-25% of purchase price. Year 2: additional 15-18%. Year 3: additional 13-15%. Year 4: additional 10-12%. Year 5: additional 8-10%. Total 5-year depreciation: 50-65% of original price. On $35,000 car: worth approximately $12,250-$17,500 after 5 years. Luxury vehicles and some domestic brands depreciate faster. Toyota and Honda historically depreciate slowest.
Lowest 5-year depreciation (best value retention): Toyota Tacoma (10-15%), Jeep Wrangler (15-20%), Toyota 4Runner (20-25%), Honda Ridgeline (25-30%). Highest depreciation (worst value retention): BMW 7-Series (55-65%), Mercedes S-Class (55-65%), Cadillac Escalade (45-55%), Lincoln MKZ (55-65%). Depreciation data from iSeeCars and Edmunds five-year studies.
Average new car depreciation: $3,000-$7,000 in year one depending on purchase price. On a $35,000 car: lose $5,250-$8,750 in year one alone. This is the largest single year of depreciation — which is why buying a 1-2 year old used car lets someone else absorb that first year hit. The prior owner essentially pays you to drive their new car for a year.
Trucks and SUVs hold value better than sedans due to consistent demand. Top value retention 5-year: Toyota Tacoma retains 85-90% of value, Jeep Wrangler 80-85%, Toyota 4Runner 75-80%. Lowest depreciation brands overall: Toyota, Honda, Subaru. Highest depreciation: luxury German brands BMW, Mercedes, Audi depreciate rapidly due to high initial price and repair cost concerns.
Mathematically yes in most cases. A 3-year-old version of the same car typically costs 35-40% less than new while retaining significant remaining life. On a $35,000 new car: 3-year-old equivalent costs $21,000-$23,000. Over 5 years of ownership the used buyer typically saves $8,000-$12,000 in total cost of ownership despite potentially higher maintenance costs.
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The Car Depreciation Calculator — How Much Value Will Your Car Lose? uses the same formulas, rates, and reference data that financial planners, professionals, and government sources publish. Results are estimates intended for planning and education — for situations involving large sums or legal consequences, confirm with a qualified professional before acting.
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