Car Depreciation: Measure the Cost You Do Not Pay Monthly
Depreciation is the purchase value you consume. It is invisible in a paid-off car’s monthly bank statement but often remains its largest ownership cost.
Car Depreciation Calculator
Turn purchase and resale estimates into the ownership cost that rarely appears on a bill.
Calculations stay in this browser. No entries are saved.
Measure value consumed between purchase and sale
Depreciation is the out-the-door price less net resale proceeds. Months and miles make ownership plans comparable.
- Start with transaction price
- Estimate net resale proceeds
- Divide loss by time and mileage
Value lost per year and per mile
Calculated resultNot available
Use transaction totals and a resale range matched by age, trim, mileage and condition.
How depreciation scenarios are built
Value consumed equals purchase price minus expected resale proceeds plus selling costs. The calculator spreads that amount over the selected months and miles for comparison.
Market shifts the estimate cannot foresee
Use the actual transaction price and a resale range. Financing interest, tax, operation and repairs belong in a complete ownership model.
This calculator supports The Real Cost of Car Ownership. Car Depreciation: Measure the Cost You Do Not Pay Monthly explains which details can change the inputs. The calculation methodology shows how we handle timing, rounding and exclusions.
Evidence standard for this calculation
Use transaction totals and a resale range matched by age, trim, mileage and condition. Inputs remain in the browser and outputs are rounded for display.
Read the complete methodology →Purchase and resale evidence to use
- Transaction price rather than MSRP
- Net resale after condition and selling costs
Questions about vehicle value loss
How many dollars of vehicle value are consumed?
Value consumed equals purchase price minus expected resale proceeds plus selling costs over the chosen holding period.
What is depreciation per month and per mile?
Monthly depreciation divides value consumed by months owned; per-mile depreciation divides the same amount by expected miles driven.
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Car Ownership Cost Calculator →
Model the costs that continue after the purchase price leaves the showroom.