Car Depreciation Calculator
Estimate how your car's value decreases over time with our free depreciation calculator.
The basics
Why Use a Car Depreciation Calculator?
Understanding how your vehicle's value diminishes over time is crucial for making informed decisions about buying, selling, or trading in your car. Our car depreciation calculator provides insights into the average depreciation rates for various vehicles, helping you plan accordingly.
Accurate Valuation
Get precise estimates of your car's current and future value based on industry data.
Trade-In Planning
Determine the optimal time to trade in your vehicle to maximise its resale value.
Financial Planning
Incorporate depreciation estimates into your financial planning for better budgeting.
Electric Vehicle Insights
Understand how electric vehicles depreciate differently compared to traditional cars.
Step by step
How Does Car Depreciation Work?
Car depreciation refers to the loss in value of a vehicle over time due to factors like age, mileage, and market demand. Our calculator helps you estimate this depreciation to make informed decisions.
- Today
- £9,450
- In 1 year
- £8,200
- In 3 years
- £6,100
- Total loss
- £3,350
Time-Based Depreciation
Vehicles lose value over time, with the most significant depreciation occurring in the first few years.
Mileage Impact
Higher mileage can accelerate depreciation, reducing your vehicle's resale value.
Market Factors
Market demand, brand reputation, and model popularity influence depreciation rates.
Inside the report
Depreciation assumes the history is clean
A projection is only worth as much as the car's record behind it. The write-off panel is open here, because a marker changes a car's future value more than any curve does.
Is the vehicle still on finance?
If a lender still has an interest in the vehicle, they can repossess it from your driveway. The seller keeps your money.
- Searched against
- The UK finance register
- Agreement types
- PCP, HP, lease, unit stocking
- Report shows
- Agreement type, date and status
- Recorded by
- The lender, not the seller
Source: UK Finance Register
Has it been written off?
Insurers record a category when a vehicle is damaged badly enough to be uneconomical to repair. Cat S and Cat N vehicles can legally return to the road.
- Searched against
- MIAFTR, the insurance loss register
- Categories covered
- A, B, C, D, S and N
- Report shows
- Category, and the date of loss
- Also covered
- Salvage and total-loss records
Source: MIAFTR
Does the mileage add up?
Every MOT reading is on record. A reading that goes down, or a jump that does not fit the pattern, is the clearest sign of a clocked vehicle.
- Readings used
- Every MOT reading on file
- Looking for
- Readings that fall, or jump
- Report shows
- The full run of readings, in order
- Also covered
- Average miles a year
Source: DVSA MOT history
Is it recorded as stolen?
A car reported stolen and never recovered stays flagged on the Police National Computer. Buying one means losing the vehicle and the money.
- Searched against
- The Police National Computer
- Marker covers
- Vehicles reported and not recovered
- Report shows
- Whether a theft marker is held
- Also covered
- The vehicle's registration status
Source: Police National Computer
How many hands has it passed through?
Frequent keeper changes can mean a problem car being passed along. The V5C record shows every change of keeper since first registration.
- Source record
- The DVLA keeper record
- Report shows
- How many keepers it has had
- Dates given
- First registration and last change
- Also covered
- How many V5Cs have been issued
Source: DVLA
Has it crossed a border?
An import can be fine, but it changes the history you should expect to find, and an exported marker on a vehicle still being sold here is a red flag.
- Markers checked
- Imported and exported
- Covers
- Vehicles first registered abroad
- Report shows
- Which marker is held, and when
- Also covered
- Whether UK history starts late
Source: DVLA
Has it been scrapped?
A certificate of destruction means the vehicle should not exist on the road. Vehicles with cloned plates borrow the identity of scrapped vehicles.
- Markers checked
- Scrapped, and destroyed
- Covers
- Certificates of destruction
- Report shows
- Whether the record was closed, and when
- Also covered
- Whether the VIN matches the record
Source: DVLA
Has the plate been changed?
Plate changes are legal and common, but they are also how a past identity gets buried. The full history lists every registration the vehicle has worn.
- Source record
- The DVLA registration record
- Report shows
- Every plate the vehicle has worn
- Dates given
- The date of each change
- Also covered
- Personalised plates added and removed
Source: DVLA
What does the MOT record say?
Every test, pass, failure and advisory since the vehicle's third year. Advisories are the useful part: they are a mechanic telling you what was already wearing out.
- Tests listed
- Every test on record
- Report shows
- Result, date and mileage for each
- Also covered
- Advisories and reasons for failure
- Goes back to
- The vehicle's third year
Source: DVSA MOT history
Is there an outstanding safety recall?
Manufacturers issue recalls when a fault could be dangerous. The work is free, but it only happens if somebody books it in, and a recall can sit unactioned for years.
- Searched against
- The DVSA recalls database
- Report shows
- Recalls affecting this vehicle
- Also covered
- Recall history for the model
- Cost to put right
- Free, at a franchised dealer
Source: DVSA recalls database
Has it been resprayed?
A recorded colour change can be a personal choice. It can also be how accident repairs or a previous identity stop being obvious at a glance.
- Source record
- The DVLA vehicle record
- Report shows
- Every recorded colour change
- Dates given
- The date of each change
- Also covered
- The colour at first registration
Source: DVLA
Does the vehicle match its paperwork?
The VIN on the vehicle should match the one on the record. When it does not, you are looking at a cloned or altered identity, and everything else in the history belongs to a different car.
- Compared
- The VIN against the DVLA record
- Report shows
- Whether plate, VIN and record agree
- Catches
- Cloned and altered identities
- Also covered
- How many V5Cs have been issued
Source: DVLA
What will it cost to tax?
The rate depends on emissions and registration date, and the difference between bands is large enough to change which vehicle you should buy.
- Source record
- The DVLA tax record
- Report shows
- Tax status, and the date it runs out
- Rate given
- The annual rate for this vehicle
- Based on
- Emissions and registration date
Source: DVLA
What is actually under the bonnet?
Engine size, power, fuel type and economy, taken from the manufacturer record rather than the advert. Useful for checking a listing describes the vehicle it is actually selling.
- Taken from
- The manufacturer record
- Report shows
- Engine size, power and fuel type
- Also covered
- Economy, emissions and gearbox
- Useful for
- Checking the advert is accurate
Source: Manufacturer data
What will it cost to keep?
Fuel, servicing, insurance group and tax in one place, so the monthly cost of owning the vehicle is visible before you commit to it rather than after.
- Report shows
- Fuel, tax, insurance and servicing
- Fuel worked out from
- The vehicle's own economy figures
- Adjustable
- By the mileage you actually drive
- Also covered
- Typical service and MOT costs
Source: Car Owl running-cost model
What will it be worth later?
What the vehicle is worth now and what it is likely to be worth in three years. Depreciation is usually the largest single cost of owning a vehicle, and the easiest one to ignore.
- Report shows
- What the vehicle is worth today
- Ranges given
- Private sale and trade
- Projected to
- Three years ahead
- Based on
- Age, mileage and market data
Source: Car Owl valuation model
What has happened to this vehicle?
Keeper changes, MOT tests, mileage readings and plate changes on one timeline. Patterns that are invisible in a list of dates tend to be obvious once they are in order.
- Events shown
- Keepers, MOTs, mileage and plates
- Ordered by
- Date, from first registration
- Also covered
- Stretches with no record at all
- Drawn from
- DVLA and DVSA records
Source: DVLA and DVSA records
What should you check in person?
A checklist built around this specific car, including what its own MOT advisories say to look at. It turns a viewing into something you can work through rather than guess at.
- Built from
- This car's own MOT advisories
- Also built from
- Known faults for the model
- Report shows
- What to check, in viewing order
- Includes
- Questions to ask the seller
Source: Car Owl
Also in every full report: VIC marker · Unpaid loan records · Common faults and typical repair costs · Fuel cost calculator · Priority support · Money-back promise
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Answered
Common Questions About Car Depreciation
Understanding car depreciation is essential for vehicle owners and buyers. Here are some frequently asked questions to help you navigate this topic.
What is the average car depreciation per year?
On average, a new car depreciates about 20% to 30% in its first year and around 15% each subsequent year. However, rates can vary based on the vehicle's make, model, and condition.
Do electric cars depreciate faster?
Electric vehicles (EVs) can depreciate faster due to factors like battery degradation and rapid technological advancements. However, some EVs retain value better than others, depending on brand and demand.
How can I minimise my car's depreciation?
Regular maintenance, keeping mileage low, and choosing vehicles with high resale value can help minimise depreciation. Additionally, staying informed about market trends is beneficial.
Why it matters
Benefits of Using Our Car Depreciation Calculator
Our tool provides valuable insights into your vehicle's value trajectory, aiding in financial planning and decision-making.
Market Insights
Stay informed about how different vehicles depreciate in the current market.
Informed Decisions
Make better choices when buying or selling a car based on depreciation data.
Financial Savings
Plan your finances effectively by understanding potential value loss.
At a glance
Estimate Your Car's Depreciation Instantly
Fast, Simple, and Accurate
Use our car depreciation calculator to get immediate estimates of your vehicle's value loss over time. Input your car's details and receive a comprehensive depreciation report.
Instant Results
Receive immediate depreciation estimates based on your vehicle's specifics.
Customised Reports
Get tailored depreciation reports considering factors like make, model, and mileage.
Start Calculating Your Car's Depreciation Today
Utilise our tool to understand your vehicle's value trajectory and make informed decisions.
Still unsure?
Frequently Asked Questions about Car Depreciation
What is car depreciation?
Car depreciation refers to the reduction in a vehicle's value over time due to factors like age, mileage, and market demand.
How is car depreciation calculated?
Depreciation is typically calculated based on the car's initial value, age, mileage, and market trends. Our calculator simplifies this process for you.
Why do electric cars depreciate differently?
Electric vehicles may depreciate differently due to factors like battery life, technological advancements, and market demand.
Can I reduce my car's depreciation?
Yes, regular maintenance, keeping mileage low, and choosing vehicles with high resale value can help reduce depreciation.
Is this calculator applicable to all car models?
Our calculator covers a wide range of car models, including electric vehicles, to provide accurate depreciation estimates.