The purchase of a car is a big deal for most people. It’s a huge investment for starters, and a major responsibility. Cars require regular maintenance. Because if you do not take proper care of your car, it will wear and tear very quickly and you might have to face a lot of problems on the road. Moreover, if you ever wish to sell your car, or are in the market for a second-hand vehicle, the factor of car depreciation matters also.
A decrease in your car’s value that occurs over time is called car depreciation. Also known as used car valuation, it serves the purpose of identifying the current rate for your used vehicle. All cars depreciate as they get older, because of inevitable wear and tear. In the world of vehicle insurance, the IRDAI, or Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India, specifies the car depreciation rate of cars pertaining to depreciation that occurs due to age. Such specifications help insurance firms to determine the IDV or Insured Declared Value of a particular car.
In the table below, you will get a better understanding of how much a car depreciates in its value, percentage-wise over different periods of time:
The Car’s Age |
The Percentage of Depreciation for Calculation of IDV |
Less than 6 months |
5% |
More than 6 months but not above 1 year |
15% |
More than 1 year but not above 2 years |
20% |
More than 2 years but not above 3 years |
30% |
More than 3 years but not above 4 years |
40% |
More than 4 years but not above 5 years |
50% |
A fact to note is that the vehicle depreciation rate for distinctive components of your car are assessed separately. The depreciation rate of the vehicle that is mentioned in the previous table serves the purpose of identifying the Insured Declared Value of any given car.
Indian insurers provide you a calculator for car valuation, or an IDV calculator on their respective websites. A calculator that computes vehicle depreciation helps you to determine your used vehicle cost after you factor in the rate of depreciation. In other words, the IDV calculator makes use of the age of your car, it’s condition, and mileage, in order to determine the valuation of your vehicle presently. It does this instantly.
Such a tool can be tremendously useful when you wish to sell your car or buy car insurance when you have a second-hand vehicle. What’s more, the tool is extremely easy to operate. You only have to enter the registration number of your car, the year of its manufacture, the brand and model of the car, the resident city/registration, etc. Sometimes, to generate more accurate results, several IDV calculators suggest that you enter the mileage and details concerning the car’s general condition. Calculating car depreciation by this tool produces results that give you insights into the following:
Amounts you will have to receive, or pay, while selling, or buying, any given vehicle
Amounts to consider while trading your car at any dealership
IDV insurance and costs of premiums
If you wish to calculate the motor depreciation of your car by yourself, you may be able to do so using any of the following formulas:
Calculating car depreciation by using the Prime Cost Technique
The formula:
The cost of running the car X (number of days the car is owned ÷ 365)
X (100% ÷ effective life in number of years)
By using this method, the depreciation of the car is calculated as a set percentage of its total cost.
Calculating car depreciation by using the Diminishing Value Technique
The formula:
The purchase value of the car X (number of days the car is owned ÷ 365)
X (effective life in number of years ÷ 200%)
In this method, the depreciation of the vehicle is calculated by using the car’s base value.
Your overall motor car depreciation rate takes into account the rate of depreciation on the car as a whole unit. However, car depreciation separate rates for various components under your car’s hood also must be considered. Here is a table showing this:
Car Components |
Rate of Depreciation |
Plastic, rubber, nylon parts, tyres and tubes, batteries of cars, air bags |
50% |
Paint |
50% |
Glass car components |
Zero depreciation |
Fibreglass car parts |
30% |
Tricks to reduce your car’s depreciation exist and these aid in the maintenance of its value. Consequently, you can get an IDV and a resale value that is high:
Keep your car spruced up and maintained. This prevents wear and tear. Regular servicing is a must too.
Make sure you purchase cars with a high resale value. Specific brands and kinds of vehicles have more resale value than others.
You can buy a used car in mint condition. This means that even if it is a second-hand vehicle you are buying, it is already in good condition and its further resale value will be high.
Run your car on shorter distances. The more kilometres that your vehicle travels, the more it gets depreciated in value.
If you plan on purchasing a car, or even wish to buy a used one, knowing about car depreciation helps. Moreover, depreciation on cars as per income tax rules, lets you claim deductions for depreciating value in vehicles (upto 15%). In terms of insurance, information on car depreciation lets you know the way that premiums are computed and charged. If you are the owner of a vehicle, insurance is a must to drive. You can select from a number of car insurance plans that safeguard you and your vehicle at Finserv MARKETS.
To calculate the depreciation value of a car, you can use the online IDV calculator. All you need to do is enter your car’s ex-showroom price in the calculator, along with its registration year. The calculator will then compute your vehicle’s depreciation value.
