Less depreceation when buying used cars
New cars lose value quickly after purchase. Used vehicles avoid the steepest depreciation period. Buying lightly used can significantly reduce long-term ownership costs.
Quick Summary
Used cars avoid the biggest depreciation losses.
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Answered by Chadwick Calhoun
Last updated 12/15/2025, 11:31:36 AM
New cars depreciate by as much as 20% as soon as you drive them off the lot. In the following year, most cars lose up to an additional 10% of their value. By year three, many cars have lost nearly half their original value.
Buying a used car that's a few years old means that major loss in value is already over. The most cost-effective way to buy and own a car is to buy a lightly used car after the largest depreciation, and then drive it for as long as you can.
General Sales Manager, Grote Automotive
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