Used Car Value Calculator
Estimate the current market value of any used car based on original price, age, mileage, condition, and vehicle category. Compare trade-in, private party, and dealer retail values.
About the Used Car Value Calculator
How much is your car actually worth today? Our used car value calculator estimates current market value using industry-standard depreciation curves, adjusted for mileage, condition, and vehicle type — giving you a starting point before you check KBB, Edmunds, or CarMax.
We break out three key price points: trade-in value (what a dealer will offer), private party value (what you can reasonably ask selling it yourself), and dealer retail (what dealers ask for the same car on their lot).
How car depreciation works
New cars lose roughly 20% of value in the first year and another 15% in year two — meaning a $40,000 car is worth ~$27,000 after 2 years. Depreciation slows in later years. At 5 years, most cars retain 40–50% of original value; at 10 years, 20–30%. Trucks and SUVs depreciate more slowly than sedans. Luxury cars depreciate faster in absolute dollar terms but slower in percentage in their first year (before rapidly accelerating).
Mileage impact on car value
Average annual mileage in the US is ~15,000 miles. A car with significantly lower mileage than average commands a premium; high mileage depresses value. A 3-year-old car with 15,000 miles (well below average 45,000) may be worth 10–15% more than the same car at 45,000 miles. Above 100,000 miles, value drops sharply as buyers factor in deferred maintenance and potential reliability concerns.
Trade-in vs. private party vs. dealer retail
Trade-in value is always the lowest because dealers need margin to recondition and resell. Private party selling gets you 10–20% more than trade-in, but requires more effort and time. Dealer retail is what they charge the next buyer — typically 15–25% above private party value. The gap between all three values is usually larger on higher-value vehicles and in seller's markets.