Build the keep cost
The keep scenario includes the immediate repair, expected future repairs, routine maintenance, insurance, and fuel over the selected period.
Free Car Decision Tool
Repair or Replace Car Calculator
Compare the estimated cost of keeping your current car with the cost of replacing it, so you can see how repairs, financing, insurance, fuel, and ownership time affect the decision.
Step 1 · Enter both scenarios
Compare keeping vs. replacing
Use your best realistic estimates. The goal is not to predict every future repair, but to make the financial tradeoff visible.
What drives the difference
See the major costs on each side.
The comparison below separates the major expenses so you can see whether repairs, financing, insurance, or operating costs are driving the result.
Keep current car
$0
Repair now + expected repairs + maintenance + insurance + fuel.
Replace current car
$0
Down payment + loan payments + insurance + fuel + maintenance.
Monthly cost difference
$0
Average difference across the selected comparison period.
How the calculator works
Compare the money, then consider the car.
A repair that feels expensive can still cost less than replacing a vehicle once financing, insurance, taxes, and operating costs are included. The reverse can also be true when repairs are becoming frequent and unpredictable.
Build the replacement cost
The replacement scenario estimates financing after trade-in and down payment, then adds annual maintenance, insurance, and fuel costs.
Look beyond the total
A lower dollar estimate does not automatically settle the decision. Safety, reliability, downtime, comfort, and whether the car still meets your needs can matter just as much.
Method: The keep cost equals the current repair plus expected annual repairs, routine maintenance, insurance, and fuel over the selected comparison period. The replacement cost includes the entered down payment plus loan payments made during the selected period and estimated annual maintenance, insurance, and fuel. The loan amount equals replacement price plus taxes/fees minus trade value and down payment, floored at zero. This is a planning comparison and does not estimate resale value at the end of the period unless you account for that separately.
Related car tools
Keep planning the decision.
Common questions
Repair or replace car questions.
Is an expensive repair always a reason to replace the car?+
No. A repair can be expensive and still cost less than replacing the vehicle once a new loan, taxes, fees, insurance, and other ownership costs are considered.
Should I compare the repair cost with the car's value?+
It can be useful context. This calculator shows the immediate repair as a percentage of the current vehicle value, but that percentage alone does not determine the better financial path.
What future repair amount should I enter?+
Use a realistic annual estimate based on the car's recent repair history, age, mileage, known upcoming work, and what your mechanic expects. The number is an assumption, so testing several scenarios can be useful.
Does the calculator include depreciation?+
No. The current version focuses on cash costs during the comparison period. Vehicle depreciation and end-of-period resale value are not automatically included.
What non-financial factors should I consider?+
Safety, reliability, breakdown risk, time without transportation, accessibility, comfort, fuel economy, and whether the vehicle still fits your household needs can all affect the decision.