Car depreciation calculator
Estimate Your Car's Today-Value.
Depreciation is the biggest cost of owning a car — and almost nobody tracks it. This calculator gives you a sensible estimate of what your car is worth right now, and what it'll likely be worth a year from now.
Model: 20% drop year 1, then ~13% of remaining value each year, adjusted by ±2% for mileage. Real-world resale varies widely by make, model, condition, and market.
Why depreciation matters more than fuel
On a typical new car, depreciation costs more in the first three years than fuel, insurance, and maintenance combined. A $35,000 car loses roughly $7,000 in the first year alone and another $4,500–5,500 in each of the next four years. By year five it's often worth less than half what you paid.
The catch: you don't feel this cost. Your bank account doesn't get smaller until you sell. So most people focus on the visible costs (gas, insurance) and miss the biggest one.
How depreciation actually works
Car depreciation is roughly exponential, not linear. The first year is the steepest drop (~20% for a typical new car driven off the lot). After that, each subsequent year drops a smaller percentage of the remaining value — usually 10–18% per year, slowing as the car ages.
The biggest variables:
- Make/model. Luxury brands and EVs typically depreciate faster than mainstream brands. Toyota and Honda hold value the best.
- Mileage. Each 10,000 miles above average shaves roughly 1–3% off resale.
- Condition & service history. A clean, documented car (see our service history app) holds value better.
- Color & trim. Common colors (silver, white, black) resell fastest; trim/options matter less than people think.
- Macro factors. Used-car prices in 2021–2022 were anomalously high; the market has since normalized.
How to slow depreciation
You can't stop it. You can slow it:
- Buy 2–4 years used. The previous owner ate the worst of the curve.
- Buy a model with a reputation for reliability. Resale value follows reputation.
- Keep mileage moderate. Excessive miles drop value fast; very low miles are also a signal of neglect to some buyers.
- Document every service. A buyer with proof pays more than a buyer guessing.
- Sell before the next big repair. A timing belt or transmission concern at year 8 vs. year 6 can mean thousands.
Pair this with Maintory
Depreciation is the invisible cost. The visible costs — fuel, service, repairs, insurance — are where Maintory comes in. The app lets you log and review them month-by-month, so the full picture of car ownership (visible costs plus depreciation from this calculator) is finally legible.
Related guides & calculators
Slow depreciation with a real service record.
Documented maintenance directly affects resale — Maintory keeps the record ready.
