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Business Car Depreciation Calculator

Use our free car depreciation calculator to see your vehicle's future value over the next few years, understand the true cost of ownership, and identify your potential ATO tax deductions. This tool helps you determine the expected resale value of many popular cars, from an average Toyota to a luxury BMW.

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Depreciation Summary

Cost Base
$45,455.00
Business Portion
$45,455.00
DV Rate
25.00%
Avg Annual DV Deduction
$5,113.05
Avg Annual Prime Cost Deduction
$5,681.88

YearDV Opening ($)DV Depreciation ($)DV Closing ($)PC Depreciation ($)PC Closing ($)
145,455.0011,363.7534,091.255,681.8839,773.13
234,091.258,522.8125,568.445,681.8834,091.25
325,568.446,392.1119,176.335,681.8828,409.38
419,176.334,794.0814,382.255,681.8822,727.50
514,382.253,595.5610,786.685,681.8817,045.63
610,786.682,696.678,090.015,681.8811,363.75
78,090.012,022.506,067.515,681.885,681.88
86,067.511,516.884,550.635,681.880.00

Used Our Depreciation Calculator? Let's Find Your Best Funding

How This Car Depreciation Calculator Can Help You

We love this part. This resource shows you how much value your vehicle loses over time. These depreciation estimates provide a reliable estimate. Use this figure to budget correctly and learn how to prepare your vehicle depreciation claim for the ATO. We then use this information to show lenders you are a smart operator who deserves the best business vehicle funding.

Pro Tips for Accurate Depreciation Calculations:

  • Purchase Price : Start with what you paid for your vehicle to get the most accurate depreciation calculations.
  • ATO Depreciation Methods : It can help you model either the diminishing-value or prime-cost method.
  • Market Value:  This is your baseline; the vehicle's real-world sale price and residual value can change.
  • Business Use Percentage : Track your work-related kilometres using the logbook method to maximise your tax claim.

Your Guide to Business Vehicle Funding & Depreciation

Let's walk through the key things you should know about your vehicle as a business asset. Understanding these concepts will help you with tax savings and confident financial decisions. Financing the vehicle? Explore business car finance, or estimate repayments with our Chattel Mortgage Calculator.

Understanding Vehicle Depreciation and Tax Claims

Car depreciation is the reduction in your car's value over time. For a business, this loss in value is a legitimate expense you can use to calculate depreciation. Making a car depreciation claim on your tax return allows you to access powerful ATO tax deductions for cars. This lowers your overall taxable income, which means you pay less tax. It can even help with your BAS statement vehicle claim.

Benefits of Calculating Value Loss Over Time

Knowing your vehicle's depreciation offers several clear advantages for your business:

  • Lower Your Tax Bill:  It is a key part of tax-deductible car expenses and can work alongside the instant asset write-off scheme.
  • Smarter Budgeting:  Create an accurate depreciation schedule for the ATO to plan for future upgrades over several years. This foresight is valuable for many years to come.
  • Informed Selling Decisions:  You will know the best time to sell or trade in your vehicle to maximise its value over the next decade.
  • GST Claim on Vehicle Purchase:  Understanding the value helps when making a GST claim.

What Can I Use Business Vehicle Funding For?

A business vehicle loan is a flexible funding option for a vehicle used primarily for your business. When considering a purchase, it's wise to research depreciation rates and get a professional car valuation. This type of equipment funding can be used to purchase new or used vehicles. This includes securing ute finance in Australia, a van loan for your business, or general small business car funding.

How to Choose the Right Commercial Vehicle Funding

Selecting the right funding is crucial for tax-effective vehicle funding. The most common options are a chattel mortgage or an operating lease.

  • Chattel Mortgage : This is a popular loan where you take ownership of the vehicle from the start. The key chattel mortgage tax benefits include claiming the GST upfront and deducting interest and depreciation.
  • Operating Lease:  This is essentially a long-term rental. You get full use of the car without owning it, and payments are typically tax-deductible.

It is different from a novated lease, which is a three-way agreement between an employee, employer, and lending company. Not sure which structure suits? Compare chattel mortgage vs lease vs hire purchase.

How Do I Get My Vehicle Loan Approved?

Getting approved is a straightforward process. Lenders want to see that your business is established and can manage repayments.

  • ABN and Trading History : You will usually need an active ABN and to have been operating for at least 6 months, though some lenders prefer a history of 2 years.
  • Healthy Cash Flow:  Lenders review your business bank statements to verify consistent revenue, which is vital for demonstrating positive cash flow.
  • A Clear Picture:  A good credit history helps, but we can also assist with finding a bad credit business car loan or low doc vehicle loan by presenting your full business story to the right lender.

Business car loans, answered

FAQ illustration

You can claim the business-use portion of the vehicle's decline in value, up to the ATO's car cost limit, which caps the amount you can depreciate. Keep a logbook to evidence the business-use percentage, and check the current limit with your accountant.

Choose a method, either diminishing value or prime cost, then apply the annual rate to the vehicle's base value each year. The calculator runs this for you so you can compare both methods instantly.

It depends on the method and the effective life the ATO assigns to that vehicle type. Diminishing value applies a set percentage each year to the reducing balance, while prime cost spreads it evenly. Check the current ATO effective-life tables.

The ATO sets a cents-per-kilometre rate each financial year for the km method, which is an alternative to depreciation and is capped at a set number of business kilometres. Check the ATO site for the current year's rate, as it's reviewed annually.

To claim the business-use portion, you'll need evidence such as a logbook showing work versus private kilometres. The logbook method usually maximises the claim for higher-business-use vehicles.

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Ready to Fund Your Next Vehicle the Smart Way?

This guide has shown you the way to calculate value and save on tax. Now, let our funding specialists in Australia secure the best small business car funding from over 80 lenders for you.

This process will not affect your credit rating in any way.