Car Depreciation Calculator — United States
Estimate how much a car loses in value: total depreciation, per year, per month and per mile or km driven. For United States drivers this uses real local figures where we have them — a state inspection costs about $0 per test and annual state vehicle fees is not charged for private cars. Prices default to USD and miles per US gallon.
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Why cost of ownership matters
The purchase price is only the beginning. Fuel or electricity, insurance, state vehicle fees, the state inspection, servicing, tyres, repairs and depreciation together usually cost more than the car itself over a few years. Use this tool to see the full picture before you buy.
How to use this calculator
Enter realistic figures for your situation — what you actually pay for insurance, what you expect to drive in a year — and the tool breaks the total down into monthly, weekly, yearly and per-distance costs. Adjust any figure and the results update instantly.
Frequently asked questions
How is car depreciation calculated?
Enter the purchase price, the age and the expected resale value, and the tool shows the total loss plus the loss per year, per month and per mile or kilometre driven, in USD.
Why is depreciation the biggest cost of owning a car?
Because a new car loses a large share of its value in the first years, before fuel, insurance, state vehicle fees and the state inspection are counted. Over five years it usually outweighs every other line.
Which cars hold their value best?
Resale data varies by model, year and the US. Enter the real trade-in or asking price for the car you are considering instead of using a rule of thumb.
Should I include depreciation in a cost comparison?
Yes — leaving it out flatters new cars and makes cheap used cars look worse than they are. The Car Cost Calculator includes it alongside state vehicle fees and the state inspection.
Estimate only: results depend entirely on the inputs. Prices and rates change; check current official sources before committing.