Estimate the current market value of your car based on age, mileage, and condition.
Economy (Holds value well)
Standard Sedan/SUV
Luxury/Performance (High depreciation)
Trucks/Work Vehicles
Estimated Current Value:
Total Depreciation:
Percentage of Value Lost:
How Vehicle Depreciation is Calculated
Vehicle depreciation is the difference between the amount you paid for your car and what it is worth when you sell or trade it in. Most new cars lose about 20% of their value in the first year alone. After that, they typically lose 10% to 15% per year.
Our calculator uses a declining balance method combined with mileage adjustments. We factor in:
Base Depreciation Rate: Different vehicle classes lose value at different rates. Luxury cars often depreciate faster due to high maintenance costs and rapid technology shifts.
Mileage Penalty: The standard average is 12,000 miles per year. If you drive significantly more, your vehicle loses value faster (calculated at $0.10 per excess mile in this model).
Compound Effect: Depreciation isn't linear; it's a percentage of the remaining value each year.
Realistic Example:
If you purchase a Standard SUV for $40,000 and keep it for 3 years, driving 15,000 miles per year:
Year 1 Value: ~$32,000 (20% drop)
Year 2 Value: ~$27,200 (15% drop)
Year 3 Value: ~$23,120 (15% drop)
Mileage Adjustment: -$900 (3,000 extra miles per year)
Final Estimated Value: ~$22,220
Tips to Reduce Depreciation
While you cannot stop depreciation, you can slow it down. Maintain a detailed service history, keep the mileage within national averages (10,000–12,000 miles/year), and choose popular colors like white, black, or silver which are easier to resell.
function calculateDepreciation() {
var purchasePrice = parseFloat(document.getElementById("purchasePrice").value);
var age = parseFloat(document.getElementById("vehicleAge").value);
var mileage = parseFloat(document.getElementById("annualMileage").value);
var baseRate = parseFloat(document.getElementById("vehicleType").value);
if (isNaN(purchasePrice) || isNaN(age) || isNaN(mileage) || purchasePrice = 1) {
currentValue = currentValue * (1 – (baseRate + 0.05));
}
// Subsequent years
for (var i = 1; i < age; i++) {
currentValue = currentValue * (1 – baseRate);
}
// Mileage adjustment: standard is 12,000.
// Penalty for over-usage, minor bonus for under-usage
var totalMiles = mileage * age;
var expectedMiles = 12000 * age;
var mileageDiff = totalMiles – expectedMiles;
// $0.10 per mile adjustment
var mileageAdjustment = mileageDiff * 0.10;
currentValue = currentValue – mileageAdjustment;
// Floor the value at 10% of purchase price (salvage/scrap value)
if (currentValue < (purchasePrice * 0.10)) {
currentValue = purchasePrice * 0.10;
}
var totalLoss = purchasePrice – currentValue;
var lossPercent = (totalLoss / purchasePrice) * 100;
document.getElementById("currentValue").innerText = "$" + currentValue.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2});
document.getElementById("totalLoss").innerText = "-$" + totalLoss.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2});
document.getElementById("lossPercentage").innerText = lossPercent.toFixed(1) + "%";
document.getElementById("resultBox").style.display = "block";
}