Semi Truck Value Estimator

How the Estimate Is Built

Starting from the original price, the first year of ownership applies roughly 20% depreciation, a steeper drop than later years because new-truck value falls fastest right after purchase. Every year after that applies roughly 10% depreciation to the prior year's already-reduced value, compounding down toward a floor of 15% of the original price, since even a very old truck retains some scrap and parts value.

From there, mileage adjusts the estimate up or down based on how it compares to a typical duty cycle of about 110,000 miles a year for the truck's age. Lower-than-expected mileage supports the value, higher-than-expected mileage trims it, and the adjustment is capped so an extreme mileage input doesn't swing the result past what's realistic. Finally, a condition multiplier (excellent, good, fair, or poor) scales the result to reflect the truck's actual physical and mechanical state.

Where the Used Market Actually Stands

Average retail pricing for used Class 8 trucks has been trending up: ACT Research reported an average retail price of roughly $59,723 in May 2026, up about 5.1% year over year from roughly $56,813 the year before. That broader market direction matters context for any single-truck estimate, since a rising or falling used market shifts what a given age and condition is actually worth beyond what a pure depreciation formula alone would suggest.

Why Mileage Isn't Just a Simple Subtraction

Two trucks of the same age with very different mileage aren't worth proportionally different amounts, because mileage interacts with wear, maintenance history, and remaining useful life in ways a straight-line calculation misses. That's why this estimator applies mileage as a bounded adjustment on top of the age-based depreciation curve rather than as its own independent factor.

What Condition Actually Changes

Condition captures everything the age-and-mileage math can't see: tire and brake wear, interior condition, recent major repairs or rebuilds, paint and body damage, and overall mechanical health. A truck in excellent condition for its age and mileage estimates meaningfully higher than one in poor condition, which is why an honest condition rating matters as much as accurate mileage.

Getting the Most Accurate Number You Can

This calculator gives you a planning-grade ballpark, useful for deciding whether to sell, trade, or refinance, and for sanity-checking a dealer's offer. For a number you'd actually transact on, pair it with a dealer appraisal, a look at recent comparable sales for the same make, model, and age, and, where it matters, a professional inspection that can surface mechanical issues no formula can see.