Posted Sunday, September 21, 2025 at 10:26pm
Fuel and maintenance tend to grab the headlines when it comes to car costs. In reality, depreciation is another big issue owners have to deal with. Unless you plan on running your car into the ground without selling it at some point, depreciation should matter to you. Usually, the average new car experiences its steepest depreciation in the first two years, losing approximately 30% of its value, according to Kelley Blue Book (KBB). After that first big slide, the depreciation rate lowers to around 8-10% over subsequent years.
