📉 Truck Depreciation Calculator
See how a truck or machine loses value year by year — straight-line or accelerated declining-balance — from its price, salvage value, and useful life, with a full book-value schedule.
📉 Depreciation schedule
| Year | Depreciation | Accumulated | Book value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $17,142.86 | $17,142.86 | $132,857.14 |
| 2 | $17,142.86 | $34,285.71 | $115,714.29 |
| 3 | $17,142.86 | $51,428.57 | $98,571.43 |
| 4 | $17,142.86 | $68,571.43 | $81,428.57 |
| 5 | $17,142.86 | $85,714.29 | $64,285.71 |
| 6 | $17,142.86 | $102,857.14 | $47,142.86 |
| 7 | $17,142.86 | $120,000.00 | $30,000.00 |
A general estimate for planning. For tax filings, MACRS class lives, conventions, and Section 179 / bonus depreciation differ — verify with a qualified accountant.
Depreciation is a real cost of ownership
The value a truck sheds each year is as real as fuel or tires, even though no invoice arrives for it. Mapping book value against age helps you decide when a unit is worth keeping, when to sell before repairs outrun residual value, and how to price replacement into your rates.
Compare the straight-line and declining-balance schedules to bracket how the asset really ages, then confirm the tax treatment with your accountant.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How does straight-line depreciation work?
It spreads the loss evenly: annual depreciation = (purchase price − salvage value) ÷ useful life in years. A $100,000 truck with a $20,000 salvage over 5 years depreciates $16,000 a year, and its book value falls in equal steps to the salvage figure at the end.
What is declining-balance / double-declining?
It front-loads the loss, which often matches how trucks and equipment really lose value. Each year you depreciate the current book value by a fixed rate — factor ÷ life, so 2 ÷ 5 = 40% for double-declining on a 5-year life — and the amount tapers off, never dropping below salvage.
Which method should I use?
Straight-line is simplest and common for internal budgeting; accelerated methods better reflect early value loss and underpin tax systems like MACRS. Many operators run both to compare book value against likely resale at different ages.
Can I use this for my taxes?
It is a general estimate for planning. Real tax depreciation follows MACRS class lives, conventions, and rules such as Section 179 and bonus depreciation that this simple model does not apply. Verify any figures used for filings with a qualified accountant; this is not professional tax or accounting advice.