Calculate how much your vehicle loses value over time with customizable depreciation rates and periods. Understand vehicle depreciation costs and make informed car buying decisions.
Updated: November 2025 • Free Tool
A car depreciation calculator is a free automotive tool that helps you determine how much your vehicle loses value over time. It calculates the decrease in your car's worth based on factors like initial value, depreciation rate, time period, and mileage.
This calculator helps with car buying decisions (understand the true cost of ownership), selling timing (determine the optimal time to sell your vehicle), lease vs. buy comparisons (compare depreciation costs between options), and budgeting for vehicle replacement costs.
Current Value = Initial Value × (1 - Rate/100)^Years
Depreciation = Initial Value - Current Value
Annual Loss = Depreciation ÷ Years
Where:
Example:
$30,000 car at 15% annual rate for 5 years:
Year 1: $30,000 × 0.85 = $25,500
Year 5: $13,311 (55.6% total loss)
Make better car buying and selling choices based on real depreciation data. Know when your vehicle will be worth selling versus keeping, and avoid buying vehicles with excessive depreciation.
Budget for vehicle replacement costs and understand true ownership expenses. Depreciation is often the largest ownership cost, so planning for it helps avoid financial surprises.
Determine the best time to sell your vehicle to minimize losses. Selling before major depreciation milestones (like hitting 100,000 miles or 5-year mark) can save thousands.
Compare depreciation between different vehicle models and years. Choose vehicles with better resale value to save money long-term, even if they cost slightly more upfront.
Luxury and exotic cars depreciate faster than economy vehicles. Some brands hold value better than others.
Best Resale Value
Toyota, Honda, Subaru, Porsche, Jeep Wrangler - retain 50-60% after 5 years
Average Resale Value
Ford, Chevrolet, Nissan, Mazda - retain 35-45% after 5 years
Poorest Resale Value
Luxury brands, EVs, Chrysler, Fiat - retain 25-35% after 5 years
Economic factors, supply and demand, and seasonal trends affect resale values. During the 2021-2022 shortage, used cars actually appreciated temporarily. Normally, recessions accelerate depreciation by 10-20%, while strong economies slow it. Gas prices also matter - when gas is expensive, trucks and SUVs depreciate faster while hybrids hold value better.
Well-maintained vehicles with complete service records retain 10-15% more value than neglected ones. Documented oil changes, tire rotations, and preventive maintenance show buyers the car was cared for. Missing service records raise red flags and lower offers. Apps like Carvetka that track all maintenance automatically can significantly boost resale value.
Popular colors (white, black, silver, gray) and desirable options increase resale value by 5-10%. Unusual colors (bright green, orange, yellow) can reduce value by 10% or more as they appeal to fewer buyers. Technology packages, leather seats, and sunroofs add value, while dated technology (old infotainment systems) can hurt it.
Calculators provide estimates, but your actual depreciation depends on maintenance, condition, and local market factors. Carvetka tracks your vehicle's real value by combining your maintenance history, condition, and current market data to give you accurate resale estimates.
Monitor your vehicle's actual market value based on condition, mileage, and local market trends. Get alerts when it's the optimal time to sell before hitting major depreciation milestones.
Complete maintenance records increase resale value by up to 15%. Carvetka automatically tracks all services with AI receipt scanning, giving you documented proof of care that buyers trust.
Compare actual depreciation across multiple vehicles. Perfect for deciding which vehicle to keep longer or which one to sell first based on current market conditions.
Get reminders before services are due. Staying on top of maintenance prevents major issues that tank resale value, and helps your vehicle depreciate at the slowest possible rate.
