Car Depreciation Calculator
Depreciation is the biggest cost of owning a car — and the most ignored. See how much value yours will shed over the years ahead.
Free, instant, and currency-agnostic — choose your currency inside the tool.
Estimate only. Future value depends on the market. See our method.
Why depreciation deserves your attention
Buyers obsess over fuel economy and interest rates, then lose far more to depreciation without noticing. For most cars it dwarfs every other running cost in the first few years. Seeing the curve laid out — a steep first drop, then a gentler slide — changes how you think about when to buy and when to sell.
The model uses a different annual rate for each vehicle type, because a pickup and a luxury saloon age very differently. The exact rates are listed on our methodology page.
Use it to time your decisions
The forecast helps you spot the sweet spot: buying a car a few years old lets someone else absorb the worst drop, while selling before a cliff in value protects your money. Pair it with the car value estimator to anchor today’s figure, and read which cars hold their value for the slow-depreciating shortlist.
Frequently asked questions
What is car depreciation?
It is the gap between what a car is worth now and what it will be worth later — the single largest cost of owning most cars. A new car can lose 15–30 percent in its first year alone, then settle into a steadier annual decline.
How does the forecast work?
Starting from the current value you enter, we apply the typical annual depreciation rate for that vehicle type and age, year by year, to project the resale value across your chosen horizon.
Which cars depreciate slowest?
Pickup trucks and some sought-after sports models tend to hold value best; luxury cars and many EVs fall fastest. Vehicle type matters more than most buyers expect.
Can I slow depreciation?
Partly. Keeping mileage reasonable, maintaining full service history, choosing popular colours and avoiding heavy modification all help a car hold more of its value.