Repair or Replace Your Car Calculator

Estimated sale value in its current condition, before repairs. This is separate from what you owe.

Example: If your car could sell for $20,000 today, enter 20000. Do not enter its original purchase price or loan balance.

Your resale estimate after the selected years, assuming you complete the repairs entered below. Enter the remaining value, not the depreciation.

Example: If a car worth $20,000 today would be worth $14,000 after three years, enter 14000—not the $6,000 it loses in value.

Repairs assumed paid in cash upfront. Do not include these again in annual repairs.

Example: If a repair needed now is quoted at $3,000, enter 3000. Enter 0 if no immediate repairs are needed.

The outstanding principal on your current loan. Enter 0 if the vehicle is paid off.

Example: If your loan statement shows $16,000 remaining, enter 16000. Do not enter the sum of remaining payments, which includes future interest.

Use the contractual interest rate when available. APR may also include fees. Enter 0 if the vehicle is paid off.

Example: For a 6.5% annual interest rate, enter 6.5—not 0.065.

Your monthly principal-and-interest payment. Enter 0 if paid off. Keep insurance and running costs separate.

Example: For a $450 monthly loan payment, enter 450.

Your estimated spending on gasoline, diesel, or charging for one full year.

Example: If you spend about $150 per month, enter 1800 for the year.

Scheduled servicing, oil changes, tires, and similar upkeep. Average occasional expenses across the years you expect to own the vehicle.

Example: If servicing and an annual allowance for tires total $600, enter 600.

An annual allowance for other repairs. Exclude immediate repairs and routine maintenance already entered.

Example: For a $500 annual repair allowance, enter 500. Do not repeat the upfront repair quote here.

The annual insurance cost for this vehicle, rather than your entire multi-vehicle policy.

Example: For coverage costing $120 per month, enter 1440 for the year.

Annual registration and recurring vehicle taxes. Exclude one-time purchase taxes.

Example: If yearly registration and recurring vehicle taxes total $150, enter 150.

The negotiated price of the replacement vehicle. Additional taxes, fees, and nonrecoverable add-ons go in the next field.

Example: For a vehicle priced at $31,000 before taxes and fees, enter 31000.

The amount offered for your current vehicle before paying off its loan. We subtract the existing loan separately.

Example: If the dealer offers $20,000 and you still owe $16,000, enter 20000 here. The resulting trade equity is $4,000.

Cash you contribute separately from trade equity. Exclude cash reserved for immediate repairs. Enter 0 if none.

Example: If you bring $3,000 of additional cash toward the purchase, enter 3000.

Your estimate of the replacement vehicle's resale value after the selected comparison period. Enter its remaining value, not its depreciation.

Example: If you expect the replacement to be worth $20,000 after three years, enter 20000.

Repairs paid in cash separately from the purchase. Exclude these from annual repairs and from the purchase price and fees.

Example: If a used replacement needs $800 of repairs immediately after purchase, enter 800. Otherwise enter 0.

Use the contractual interest rate when available. APR may also include fees. Enter 0 for a cash purchase or zero-interest loan.

Example: For a 6.5% annual interest rate, enter 6.5—not 0.065.

The repayment term for the replacement loan. It can be longer than your comparison period. Ignored when no financing is needed.

Example: A five-year loan is 60 months. For a three-year comparison, we show the loan balance remaining after 36 months.

Estimated gasoline, diesel, or charging costs for the replacement over one full year.

Example: If you expect to spend $100 per month, enter 1200 for the year.

Scheduled servicing, oil changes, tires, and similar upkeep. Average occasional expenses across the years you expect to own the vehicle.

Example: If servicing and an annual allowance for tires total $400, enter 400.

An annual allowance for repairs you would pay yourself. Exclude maintenance and immediate repairs already entered.

Example: For a $300 yearly repair allowance, enter 300.

Use an estimate or quote for the replacement vehicle. Its premium may differ from your current vehicle's premium.

Example: If the replacement's insurance quote is $150 per month, enter 1800 for the year.

Annual registration and recurring vehicle taxes. Exclude purchase taxes and any initial registration charge already counted in purchase fees; enter an annualized allowance for later renewals.

Example: If later renewals total $400 during a three-year comparison, enter approximately 133.33 per year so the initial charge is not counted twice.