New cars lose 20–30% of their value in the first year. Here's how Australian car depreciation works across different makes and segments.
Australian car depreciation follows a consistent curve for most mainstream vehicles:
The 2021–2022 period was an anomaly: global supply shortages caused used car values to increase in some segments, with resale values exceeding new purchase prices for certain popular models.
Vehicles that hold value best tend to share these characteristics: strong reliability reputation, high demand relative to supply, low operating costs.
**Best depreciators:**
**Worst depreciators:**
Check the current market value on Redbook.com.au or CarsGuide and compare it to what you paid. Divide the loss by the original purchase price for a percentage.
Yes, significantly. A car with 150,000 km is worth considerably less than an equivalent model with 60,000 km, even if the same age.
Wondering what your car is actually worth in today's market? This guide explains exactly how car valuations work in Australia, what factors affect your price, and how to get the most accurate estimate.
Why does one car sell for $20,000 while an almost-identical one fetches $14,000? These 12 factors determine resale value in Australia.
Toyota HiLux, Land Cruiser, and Mazda CX-5 consistently lead resale value rankings in Australia. Here's the full picture on which cars retain value.