Nissan Leaf depreciation: when to buy & cost to own
Estimates as of June 2026.
The Nissan Leaf (EV, ~$33,500 new) loses about 69% of its value in five years — it depreciates faster than the 41.8% market average. Its cheapest age to buy is 4 years old: held five years that's about $2,572/yr in depreciation and upkeep versus $5,206/yr buying new — keeping 50.6% more of your money.
Add taxes & registration: at ~$33,500 new, sales tax alone is about $2,345 (at 7%), but at 4 years old it's about $844 — roughly $1,501 saved in sales tax alone. Value-based registration is charged each year too. Set the rates for your state in the calculator below.
Value by age
| Age | Est. value | Total lost |
|---|---|---|
| New | $33,500 | 0% |
| 1 yr | $21,105 | 37% |
| 2 yr | $17,420 | 48% |
| 3 yr | $14,740 | 56% |
| 4 yr | $12,060 | 64% |
| 5 yr | $10,385 | 69% |
| 7 yr | $7,701 | 77% |
| 10 yr | $4,917 | 85.3% |
What will it cost you to own?
All-in cost = depreciation + maintenance + sales tax + registration. The calculator opens at this car's computed best buy age; drag "Buy at (age)" to compare. Sales tax and registration vary by state — the defaults (7% tax, value-based registration) are U.S. ballparks; set 0 where they don't apply. Figures are modeled estimates. How we estimate this →