Free Online Car Depreciation Estimator
Estimate Your Car's Value Over the Next Several Years
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A new car loses value the moment it's driven off the lot, and that depreciation continues — unevenly — over the following years, with the steepest drop typically happening in the first year and a more gradual decline afterward, following a pattern well documented across the auto industry.
| Year | Estimated value | Total depreciation |
|---|---|---|
| New | $35,000 | -$0 (0%) |
| 1 | $28,000 | -$7,000 (20%) |
| 2 | $24,640 | -$10,360 (30%) |
| 3 | $21,683 | -$13,317 (38%) |
| 4 | $19,081 | -$15,919 (45%) |
| 5 | $16,791 | -$18,209 (52%) |
Based on typical industry depreciation curves (~20% in year one, ~12%/year after). Actual resale value depends on make, model, mileage, and condition.
Other tools in Automotive Calculators
Features
- Runs entirely in your browser
- Privacy-first — your data is never uploaded
- Real-time, instant results
- 100% free, no sign-up required
- Works on desktop, tablet, and mobile
- No installation needed
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About Car Depreciation Estimator
A new car loses value the moment it's driven off the lot, and that depreciation continues — unevenly — over the following years, with the steepest drop typically happening in the first year and a more gradual decline afterward, following a pattern well documented across the auto industry.
This estimator applies typical industry depreciation rates — roughly a 20% drop in year one, followed by about 12% per year afterward — to your vehicle's purchase price, projecting its estimated resale value for each year over your chosen time horizon.
The year-by-year table shows both the estimated value and cumulative depreciation as a dollar amount and percentage, useful for deciding how long to keep a vehicle, budgeting for a future trade-in, or simply understanding how much of your purchase price you're likely to recover if you sell later.
How it works
- Enter the purchase price. Input what the vehicle cost (or would cost) new.
- Set the projection period. Choose how many years ahead to estimate value for.
- Read the depreciation schedule. See estimated value and total depreciation for each year.
Examples
$35,000 new car, 5-year projection
Input
Price: $35,000, Years: 5
Output
Year 5 estimated value: ≈ $15,400 (56% depreciated)