Estimate the current market value of your vehicle based on age and usage.
Standard Sedan/SUV
Luxury Vehicle
Truck / Work Vehicle
Electric Vehicle (EV)
Estimated Current Value:$0.00
Total Depreciation:$0.00
Percentage of Value Retained:0%
How Car Depreciation is Calculated
Car depreciation is the difference between the amount you paid for your vehicle and its current market value. Most new cars lose roughly 20% of their value in the first year and approximately 15% each year thereafter. Our calculator uses a reducing balance method combined with mileage adjustments to provide a realistic estimate.
Factors That Accelerate Depreciation
Mileage: The more you drive, the faster your car loses value. Standard depreciation models assume 12,000 to 15,000 miles per year. Exceeding this will lower your resale value.
Vehicle Type: Luxury cars often depreciate faster because their maintenance costs rise significantly as they age, making them less desirable on the used market.
Condition: Physical wear, accidents, and a lack of service records can slash thousands off your car's value.
Number of Owners: Generally, a one-owner car fetches a higher price than a vehicle that has changed hands multiple times.
Example: 3-Year-Old Sedan
If you bought a standard sedan for $30,000 three years ago and drove it the average amount of miles:
Year 1: Value drops to $24,000 (20% loss)
Year 2: Value drops to $20,400 (15% loss)
Year 3: Value drops to $17,340 (15% loss)
After three years, your car is worth approximately 58% of its original price. Using this calculator helps you plan the best time to trade in or sell your vehicle to maximize your return.
How to Slow Down Depreciation
While you cannot stop depreciation entirely, you can mitigate its effects. Keeping detailed maintenance records, parking in a garage to protect the paint, and keeping the mileage low are the best ways to preserve value. Choosing colors like white, black, or silver also helps, as they are easier to resell than "loud" colors.
function calculateDepreciation() {
var price = parseFloat(document.getElementById("purchasePrice").value);
var age = parseFloat(document.getElementById("carAge").value);
var mileage = parseFloat(document.getElementById("annualMileage").value);
var baseRate = parseFloat(document.getElementById("vehicleType").value);
var resultDiv = document.getElementById("depreciation-result");
var valDisplay = document.getElementById("currentValueText");
var lossDisplay = document.getElementById("totalLossText");
var percentDisplay = document.getElementById("percentRetainedText");
if (isNaN(price) || isNaN(age) || isNaN(mileage) || price = 1) {
currentValue = currentValue * (1 – (baseRate + 0.05));
}
// Subsequent years
if (age > 1) {
for (var i = 1; i standardMileage) {
var excessMileage = (mileage – standardMileage) * age;
var mileagePenalty = (excessMileage / 1000) * 0.005; // 0.5% per 1k miles
currentValue = currentValue * (1 – mileagePenalty);
}
// Floor the value at 10% of original price (scrap value)
if (currentValue < (price * 0.1)) {
currentValue = price * 0.1;
}
var totalLoss = price – currentValue;
var percentRetained = (currentValue / price) * 100;
valDisplay.innerHTML = "$" + currentValue.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2});
lossDisplay.innerHTML = "$" + totalLoss.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2});
percentDisplay.innerHTML = percentRetained.toFixed(1) + "%";
resultDiv.style.display = "block";
}