What this calculator does

Projects how much your vehicle loses in value over your chosen period using SA passenger vehicle depreciation rates. Depreciation is applied as a declining balance — each year's rate applies to the prior year's estimated value, not the original price. Mileage adjusts the rate up or down by 15%.

How to interpret your results

The biggest drop happens in the first two years. A R400,000 new car loses roughly R80,000 in year one alone from registration premium loss. Buying a 1–2 year old vehicle of the same model means someone else absorbs that initial hit. The cumulative loss column shows the total depreciation from your purchase price at each point in time.

Assumptions applied

• Rates are based on average SA passenger vehicle market data. Luxury, performance, and niche vehicles may depreciate differently.
• Mileage adjustment is applied as a flat multiplier on the base rate — actual impact varies by make and model.
• Vehicle value never drops below 10% of purchase price (floor value for scrap/trade-in).
• Depreciation is calculated annually. Real-world values fluctuate monthly based on demand and condition.
• Age at purchase is used as the starting point for the depreciation curve — the calculator does not estimate what the vehicle cost new.

What this calculator doesn't account for

• Does not account for condition, accident history, or service record — all of which affect resale value.
• Does not model market demand fluctuations (e.g. diesel premiums/discounts, EV transition effects).
• Not a formal valuation — use TransUnion/SAMBCA data for actual trade-in or resale negotiations.