Used Car Worth Calculator

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Used Car Worth Calculator

Estimate the current market value of your vehicle based on depreciation and condition.

Economy (Toyota, Honda) Standard (Ford, Chevy, Nissan) Luxury (BMW, Mercedes, Audi) High-End Luxury/Electric
Excellent (Like new, no mechanical issues) Good (Minor wear, well maintained) Fair (Visible wear, high mileage feel) Poor (Needs repair, significant damage)

Estimated Market Value

How to Determine Used Car Value

Valuing a used car is more than just looking at a sticker price. The moment a vehicle leaves the lot, it begins to depreciate. This calculator uses industry-standard depreciation curves combined with mileage adjustments to provide a realistic estimate of what your car is worth today.

Key Factors in Car Valuation

  • Depreciation Rate: Most cars lose 15-20% of their value in the first year and roughly 10-15% every year after.
  • Brand Reliability: Brands like Toyota and Honda typically have lower depreciation rates compared to luxury brands like BMW or Mercedes, which can lose value rapidly due to maintenance costs.
  • The "Mileage Rule": The average driver covers 12,000 to 15,000 miles per year. If your mileage is significantly higher, your car's value drops faster than the age-based curve suggests.
  • Condition: A car in "Excellent" condition can command a 5-10% premium, while "Poor" condition can slice 30% or more off the value.

Example Calculation

Imagine a 3-year-old Standard Sedan with an original MSRP of $30,000 and 36,000 miles (average use):

  1. Year 1: Value drops to $24,600 (18% loss).
  2. Year 2: Value drops to $20,172 (further 18% loss).
  3. Year 3: Value drops to $16,541 (final 18% loss).
  4. Condition Adjustment: If in "Excellent" condition, the final value might be adjusted up to $17,368.

Tips to Increase Resale Value

To ensure you get the most money when selling your used car, keep detailed maintenance records, address minor cosmetic issues like scratches or dents immediately, and keep the interior clean and smoke-free.

function calculateCarValue() { var msrp = parseFloat(document.getElementById('msrp').value); var age = parseFloat(document.getElementById('carAge').value); var mileage = parseFloat(document.getElementById('mileage').value); var depRate = parseFloat(document.getElementById('brandType').value); var conditionMod = parseFloat(document.getElementById('carCondition').value); if (isNaN(msrp) || isNaN(age) || isNaN(mileage) || msrp <= 0) { alert("Please enter valid numbers for MSRP, Age, and Mileage."); return; } // Step 1: Exponential Depreciation // Formula: Value = MSRP * (1 – rate)^years var depreciatedValue = msrp * Math.pow((1 – depRate), age); // Step 2: Mileage Adjustment // Standard mileage is 12,000 miles per year var standardMileage = age * 12000; var mileageDiff = mileage – standardMileage; // Penalty/Bonus: $0.12 per mile over/under average var mileageAdjustment = mileageDiff * 0.12; var valueAfterMileage = depreciatedValue – mileageAdjustment; // Step 3: Apply Condition Multiplier var finalValue = valueAfterMileage * conditionMod; // Floor the value at 10% of MSRP (Scrap/Base value) var scrapValue = msrp * 0.10; if (finalValue < scrapValue) { finalValue = scrapValue; } // Display Result var resultBox = document.getElementById('resultBox'); var finalValueDisplay = document.getElementById('finalValue'); var summary = document.getElementById('valuationSummary'); finalValueDisplay.innerHTML = "$" + finalValue.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 0, maximumFractionDigits: 0}); var totalDepreciation = ((msrp – finalValue) / msrp * 100).toFixed(1); summary.innerHTML = "Your vehicle has retained approx. " + (100 – totalDepreciation).toFixed(1) + "% of its original value. This estimate assumes a private party sale in your local market."; resultBox.style.display = "block"; resultBox.scrollIntoView({ behavior: 'smooth', block: 'nearest' }); }

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