Truck Depreciation Calculator
Pickups keep their value better than almost any other vehicle. See what yours will be worth each year and how the curve compares with a car.
Get a plain-English read of your numbers, or ask anything about depreciation, when to sell or lease vs buy. Nothing is sent until you press Ask.
Today $52,000
- Total value lost
- $23,982 (46%)
- Cost of depreciation per month
- $400
- Worst single year
- $8,320
| Year | Value | Lost that year | Total lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Today | $52,000 | — | 0% |
| Year 1 | $43,680 | $8,320 · 16% | 16% |
| Year 2 | $38,438 | $5,242 · 12% | 26% |
| Year 3 | $34,210 | $4,228 · 11% | 34% |
| Year 4 | $30,789 | $3,421 · 10% | 41% |
| Year 5 | $28,018 | $2,771 · 9% | 46% |
Truck depreciation rate
A new full-size pickup usually loses about 16% in year one, then around 9–11% of its remaining value each year. After five years it's commonly worth about half of its sticker price, where an average sedan is closer to 40%. The table on this page shows the model's value left at each age.
Why trucks hold value
- Demand from work buyers: contractors, farmers and towing owners keep used-truck demand high.
- Long service life: body-on-frame trucks routinely pass 200,000 miles, so a 5-year-old truck still has most of its useful life left.
- Slow model cycles: designs change less often than cars, so older trucks look less dated.
What pulls a truck's value down
Rust on the frame and bed, signs of heavy towing, aftermarket lifts, and a high trim with expensive options (buyers rarely pay back the full cost of options). Heavy-duty diesels hold value well, but only with records.
Questions people ask
What is the average truck depreciation rate?
Full-size pickups typically lose about 15–17% in year one and around 9–11% a year after that, leaving roughly half to 55% of the new price after five years. That is noticeably better than the average car, which keeps about 40%.
Which trucks hold their value best?
Resale studies from iSeeCars and Kelley Blue Book consistently place the Toyota Tacoma and Tundra near the top, followed by Ford Ranger, Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Canyon, Honda Ridgeline and well-kept heavy-duty diesels. Mid-size trucks often hold value slightly better than full-size ones.
Do high miles hurt a truck as much as a car?
Less. Buyers expect trucks to work, so each extra 1,000 miles costs a truck a little less value than a car. Towing wear, rust and a poor maintenance record matter more than the odometer alone.
Can I deduct truck depreciation on my taxes?
If the truck is used more than 50% for business you can depreciate the business share. Pickups with a gross vehicle weight rating over 6,000 lb are not subject to the passenger-car annual caps. See the business vehicle depreciation calculator for MACRS and bonus depreciation.