Car depreciation is how much value a vehicle loses over time. Each vehicle depreciates at a unique rate depending on factors like its make, model, age, accident history and maintenance record.
Vehicles lose value from the second they leave the lot to the day they’re written off. In fact, after just the first year most new vehicles are worth 20% to 30% less than their purchase price. Keep reading to learn how understanding the ins and outs of depreciation can save you money.
The rate a car depreciates varies depending on whether the vehicle is new, used or leased. Let’s take a closer look at how depreciation works for each option.
New car depreciation
New cars depreciate the fastest. Most new cars lose about 10% of their value as soon as they’re driven off the lot, and another 10% to 20% by the end of the first year. After that, you’re looking at the average depreciation rate of a car landing between 15% and 25% per year, for an average loss of over 60% by the fifth year.
If you plan to sell or trade in your vehicle within five years of buying it, you’ll likely lose a significant amount of the car’s value to depreciation.
To help give you an idea of how car deprecation works on a new car, the table below shows an example of how a new, compact car with a MSRP of $24,465 could depreciate over 5 years.
After…
Car value
1 minute
$22,019
1 year
$18,349
2 years
$15,138
3 years
$12,489
4 years
$10,303
5 years
$8,500
Used car depreciation
Because depreciation is most drastic in the first year, you could save roughly 20% to 30% by buying a used vehicle that’s one year old. After the first year, depreciation averages about 17.5%, so you could save even more if you’re open to buying an older vehicle. Plus, when it comes time to sell or trade in your vehicle, it’ll retain more of its value.
Leased car depreciation
Instead of buying new or used, you could also choose to lease. The lease price includes the cost of depreciation, plus tax and interest, and has a set buyout price for the expected residual value of the vehicle. Once your lease is up, you won’t need to worry about selling the car at a loss. Simply hand over the keys to end your lease or buy it out, which can be profitable if its resale value is more than the buyout price.
Who is most likely to be researching car depreciation?
Finder data suggests that men aged 25-34 are most likely to be researching this topic.
Response
Male (%)
Female (%)
65+
5.76%
2.14%
55-64
6.02%
3.48%
45-54
12.72%
5.09%
35-44
14.06%
5.09%
25-34
16.60%
8.97%
18-24
11.11%
8.97%
Source: Finder sample of 747 visitors using demographics data from Google Analytics
How to calculate car depreciation
Cars depreciate the most in the first year, but level out in the following years. The average depreciation rate of a new car is 25% by the end of the first year and about 17.5% each following year.
Car depreciation formula after 1st year:
0.75 × purchase price
Car depreciation formula after 2 or more years:
0.825 × value at the end of previous year
This is how you would use this formula to calculate car depreciation on a new vehicle:
Value after 1 year: Price of new vehicle × 0.75
Value after 2 years: Value after 1st year × 0.825
Value after 3 years: Value after 2nd year × 0.825
Value after 4 years: Value after 3rd year × 0.825
Value after 5 years: Value after 4th year × 0.825
Car depreciation calculator example
Take a vehicle with an MSRP of $27,705. Using the formula above, here’s how you would calculate the car’s depreciation after each year you own it:
Value after 1st year: $27,705 × 0.75 = $20,779
Value after 2nd year: $20,779 × 0.825 = $17,142
Value after 3rd year: $17,142 × 0.825 = $14,142
Value after 4th year: $14,142 × 0.825 = $11,667
Value after 5th year: $11,667 × 0.825 = $9,625
The car depreciation chart below illustrates how the value of a car decreases the most in the first year. As the car gets older the curve levels out and the value drops less severely from year to year.
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Top 4 ways car depreciation affects car insurance?
Your car’s value over time affects your car insurance rates in a few ways.
Car value. Higher MSRP means higher insurance rates. An expensive car requires pricier repairs and is more costly to replace. A low-cost used car is cheaper to repair and will get better insurance rates.
Safety. An older car with poor safety ratings that doesn’t have the latest safety features won’t benefit from safety device discounts or a cheap rate.
Coverage maximums. You might not need high coverage maximums on a car that’s not worth much anymore.
Coverage types. You can typically drop collision and comprehensive insurance coverage on an older car once the cost of coverage exceeds your car’s value. For example, you might save hundreds of dollars a year by changing to a liability only plan and paying for damages yourself, assuming damages don’t amount to very much.
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What factors impact how fast a car depreciates?
Whether you buy new, used or lease a vehicle, they all depreciate at different rates. Factors that influence how quickly a car loses value include:
Age
The age of a vehicle is the biggest factor in depreciation. New vehicles depreciate the most in the first year, but the rate levels out to about 15% per year after the first couple of years.
Mileage
How much you drive can influence wear and tear, which directly affects depreciation. By keeping your odometer as low as possible, you can go a long way to minimizing the effects of depreciation.
Gas prices
The price of gas affects the cost of driving a vehicle, so a shift in gas prices can determine how well a vehicle holds its value.
Brand
Some vehicle brands maintain their value better than others thanks to repair costs, warranties, demand, expected life cycle and other variables.
Paint colour
Some colours are in higher demand than others. If you choose a colour that stands out, fewer people may be willing to buy your vehicle, which could hurt its resale value.
Accident history
The condition of your vehicle can directly affect the rate at which it depreciates. Even if you’ve had it repaired after multiple accidents, a lengthy service history could reduce its value.
Configuration
Build options can influence how the vehicle holds up over time, like the drivetrain and transmission. Manual cars might also be harder to sell than those with automatic transmissions.
Supply and demand
If demand outweighs supply, prices will go up. Conversely, if there are more sellers than buyers, resale value may go down.
Running costs
Maintenance and service fees are a reality of owning any vehicle. If a car is expensive to maintain, people may be less likely to buy it, meaning it would depreciate faster.
Newer models
If newer models have major improvements or incentives to buy them, older models could depreciate faster. The opposite can also be true — if a vehicle is discontinued or the newer version is worse than older models, the older models may hold their resale value better.
Taxes and subsidies
Both can affect the cost of ownership, which may impact the rate of depreciation. For example, if the government is offering a subsidy for hybrid vehicles, people could be more likely to buy them, which may lead to higher resale values.
Warranty
Most vehicles come with a new vehicle warranty, some of which are even transferable to new owners. Having a valid warranty could help maintain or improve resale values and reduce depreciation.
Car depreciation by brand and model
Depreciation is the most influential factor in the long-term value and total cost of ownership of your car. But some cars hold their value better in the long run.
According to J.D. Power, the best brands for car depreciation in 2022 are Toyota, Chevrolet, Lexus, GMC, Mercedes-Benz and Subaru. These car brands were projected to have the highest percentage value of the original MSRP after a 3 or 4-year period.
Here are some of the slowest depreciating cars in 2020 according to the Canadian Black Book:
Compact Car
Toyota Prius v
Compact Commercial Van
Chevrolet City Express
Compact Luxury Crossover-SUV
Porsche Macan
Compact SUV
Jeep Wrangler
Entry-Luxury-Car
Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Full-Size Car
Toyota Avalon
Full-Size Crossover-SUV
Toyota Sequoia
Full-Size Luxury Crossover-SUV
Mercedes-Benz G-Class
Full-Size Pick-Up
Ford F250 Super Duty
Full-Size Vans
RAM ProMaster 3500
Luxury Car
Lexus GS-Series
Mid-Size Car
Honda Accord
Mid-Size Crossover-SUV
Toyota 4Runner
Mid-Size Luxury Crossover-SUV
Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class
Minivan
Toyota Sienna
Premium Luxury Car
Porche Panamera
Premium Sports Car
Porsche 911
Small Pick-Up
Toyota Tacoma
Sports Car
BMW Z4
Sub-compact Car
Honda Fit
Sub-Compact Crossover
Honda HR-V
Sub-Compact Luxury Crossover
Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class
Zero Emission Vehicle
Ford Focus
How to limit depreciation when selling a car
While you can’t avoid depreciation, there are ways to reduce how fast it affects your car. From buying a car that has a reputation for reliability to staying up to date with maintenance, you can help your car maintain more of its value. Find even more ways to reduce your car’s depreciation.
How to take advantage of depreciation when buying a car
There are a number of ways you can use depreciation to your advantage:
Shop for gently used cars. Many cars depreciate the most in the first 3 years, which is the same length as most standard leases. The used car market is often flooded with nearly pristine vehicles, because most leases limit your mileage and require you to keep the car in good condition.
Buy based on the market. Some cars have a lower resale value because of popularity or other market factors, even if there’s nothing particularly wrong with the model. Watch out for cars that have poor resale value because they’re genuinely lower in quality though.
Lease to buy. When you lease a vehicle, the price includes the estimated cost of depreciation, and your contract will often state the guaranteed buyout price once the lease is over. In some cases, the actual resale value of the vehicle will be lower than the buyout price, meaning you can buy the vehicle at a discount.
Choose the right colour. Believe it or not, the colour of your new car can have a huge impact on how much it will depreciate in the coming years. White, black, silver and grey cars are always popular and therefore better at maintaining value. Keep in mind that some limited-run colours may hold their value better due to low supply and high demand.
Drive your car into the ground. If you buy a new or used car and don’t plan to sell it, you won’t need to worry about depreciation.
How to maintain your car’s value
Stay on top of maintenance. Used car buyers want to purchase a vehicle that’s been taken care of. Follow your car manufacturer’s maintenance schedule, enter each service in the logbook and keep your receipts.
Keep it clean. If your car is home to strong and unpleasant odors, don’t expect to get a high price when the time comes to sell.
Low mileage. As much as possible, keep your mileage to a minimum. Your car loses value the more miles you put on it.
Check engine light. Don’t ignore those warning lights on your dashboard if one pops up. Get your car in to be diagnosed asap.
Be sparing with mods. A sky-high spoiler can be tempting, but it may also negatively impact your car’s resale value.
Bottom line
While car depreciation affects every make and model differently, you can reduce the impact by understanding how it works. Shop for a car that’ll save you money on insurance and depreciation in the long run by comparing your insurance options.
Common questions about car depreciation
It depends on your situation. Used cars are solid options because they allow you to avoid some of the costs of depreciation. But if you don’t plan to sell the vehicle, you’ll never face those costs in the first place.
In some cases, yes — it’s called diminished value. Even if your insurance company covers the cost of repairs, having an accident on the car’s history can cause it to depreciate faster.
Another situation where insurance might cover depreciation is if you have gap insurance, which protects against potential losses due to depreciation if you’re financing your vehicle.
No. The rate of depreciation slows down over time, but even 10-year-old cars depreciate in value.
Because depreciation is steepest in the first year, and because lease terms typically last 3 years, you can avoid a significant amount of depreciation by buying a used car that’s between 1 and 3 years old. You can often still get some life out of the warranty if it transfers to a new driver.
Peter Carleton is a writer that covers banking and investing, breaking down what you need to know about where you put your money. When Peter's not thinking about cutting-edge banking apps and robo-advisors, he runs a creative agency and spends his spare time cooking or reading.
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