Find the depreciation rate of your Ford Taurus in the graph below.
Every vehicle starts to depreciate from the moment of purchase. The Ford Taurus is no different. Most depreciation usually occurs in the first 12 months. After the first year, the Taurus will depreciate at a slower rate each year until it reaches the four-year mark. Vehicles depreciate at different rates depending on their make and model. It’s helpful to know the depreciation rate of the Ford Taurus so you can consider its long-term value and total cost of ownership.
Keep in mind that just because the vehicle costs the least to own in the sweet spot we have outlined here, you still may not want to own the vehicle during these depreciation sweet spot years. Although vehicles depreciate less as they get older, they have more repairs. Duh right? However, keep in mind that repairs don’t just cost you money, they cost you time. Reliability is the difference between being able to make it to your destination on time or missing an opportunity because the car broke down.
Check out our article on the best and worst years of the Ford Taurus to see our reliability ratings for all years of the Taurus between 2001-2022. We also cover MPG, safety ratings, and a number of other factors. We pulled data from Tauruses registered in our app and surveyed owners to get you data-backed answers on just how good or bad each year of the Taurus is.
If you want to know the depreciation and maintenance costs for your particular vehicle, use our free “Total Cost of Ownership” tool available in the FIXD App – Android or IOS.
If you like our online tools and articles consider purchasing our FIXD sensor for $19.99 (this is 67% OFF). It’s our flagship product. With it, you scan your car for common engine problems.
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Ford Taurus Depreciation
| Model Years | Mileage | Amount Depreciated | Residual Value Percentage | Resale Value |
| 2001 | 264,000 | $ 22,632.35 | 1.1% | $250 |
| 2002 | 252,000 | $ 23,574.23 | 1.2% | $276 |
| 2003 | 240,000 | $ 24,451.71 | 1.3% | $326 |
| 2004 | 228,000 | $ 25,146.50 | 1.6% | $398 |
| 2005 | 216,000 | $ 28,875.39 | 0.9% | $250 |
| 2006 | 204,000 | $ 26,711.43 | 0.9% | $250 |
| 2007 | 192,000 | $ 27,152.99 | 1.4% | $372 |
| 2008 | 180,000 | $ 29,863.28 | 3.2% | $984 |
| 2009 | 168,000 | $ 31,777.73 | 3.8% | $1,272 |
| 2010 | 156,000 | $ 29,865.27 | 8.0% | $2,614 |
| 2011 | 144,000 | $ 28,450.55 | 9.9% | $3,141 |
| 2012 | 132,000 | $ 27,694.47 | 12.2% | $3,858 |
| 2013 | 120,000 | $ 28,373.25 | 12.7% | $4,120 |
| 2014 | 108,000 | $ 27,464.21 | 15.8% | $5,139 |
| 2015 | 96,000 | $ 25,899.45 | 20.9% | $6,846 |
| 2016 | 84,000 | $ 23,188.47 | 29.2% | $9,574 |
| 2017 | 72,000 | $ 21,816.59 | 34.1% | $11,312 |
| 2018 | 60,000 | $ 20,927.36 | 37.9% | $12,781 |
| 2019 | 48,000 | $ 20,741.49 | 41.0% | $14,430 |
| 2020 | 36,000 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2021 | 24,000 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2022 | 12,000 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2023 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2024 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
The chart above conveys the approximate depreciation for a Ford Taurus. It is based on Kelley Blue Book data since 2001, assuming a vehicle in standard trim, a generic color like black or white, and a mileage of 12,000 per year.
Keep in mind that the auto market was heavily affected in 2020 and beyond. Automakers selling new cars during the COVID pandemic raised prices which caused a spike in demand in the used car market as people tried to save money. Many automakers, however, did not drop prices after the pandemic, they kept them so they could make a larger profit.
This is why the most recent years of many vehicles have seemingly experienced less depreciation. Some may have even appreciated due to the heightened levels of inflation created.
Factors That Impact the Ford Taurus Depreciation Rate
In its 120-year history, Ford has become one of the most recognizable car brands of all time. It’s known for producing a range of quality cars, trucks, SUVs, and performance vehicles. Many Ford vehicles, including the Taurus, have become bestsellers for their innovative designs and engineering. At times, however, quality issues have plagued Ford’s reputation, and it often falls behind other car brands for reliability. This reputation may affect the resale value of your Taurus. Here are some other factors that can impact the Ford Taurus depreciation rate.
Age
You can tell the age of a vehicle by its model year, which refers to its generation. New vehicles usually depreciate quickly, especially as new generations replace outgoing model years. The biggest loss in a vehicle’s value often occurs over the first few years.
The model year of your Taurus also determines its features and safety technology. Most automakers, including Ford, update their vehicles every year. They may release a redesigned version of the same vehicle every few years. For this reason, every model year has different features, making some years better than others. This distinction between model years can affect the resale value of your Taurus.
Body Type
Body type, also known as body style, classifies vehicles based on their size and arrangement. The most common body styles include sedans, hatchbacks, coupes, sports cars, convertibles, station wagons, minivans, SUVs, and pickup trucks. Vehicles often depreciate at different rates based on their body type. In North America, there’s a larger demand for SUVs and pickup trucks, so these body types usually depreciate the slowest. Small luxury cars typically have the fastest depreciation rates.
The Ford Taurus is a four-door sedan that Ford discontinued in 2019. Sedans like the Taurus usually depreciate more quickly than SUVs and pickup trucks, but they retain their value better than luxury cars. If demand for smaller cars increases, the Taurus and other sedans may start to depreciate at a slower rate.
Mileage
The mileage on your Taurus can also affect its depreciation. As a vehicle gains mileage, it generally starts to show wear and tear. It may even experience problems that require advanced maintenance or repairs.
Federal data shows the average driver travels slightly over 1,000 miles each month. For this reason, we base our model on 12,000 miles of driving per year. If you drive your Taurus more than that, you may increase its depreciation rate. Conversely, you may slow its depreciation by driving less than the average mileage each year.
Overall Condition
The condition of your Taurus refers to how well it drives and looks. Vehicles in good condition usually have few mechanical problems and minimal wear and tear. You can keep your Taurus in good condition by following a routine maintenance schedule for oil changes, tire rotations, and other basic services. If you complete routine maintenance and avoid major damage, the resale value of your Taurus might be higher.
However, it’s important to note that at some point, it may not be worth continuing to maintain a vehicle. If maintenance costs more than the car itself, it might be time to sell the vehicle and purchase a new one. If you continue to spend money on it, you may not see the same return when you eventually sell it.
Color
Even the color of your Ford Taurus can affect its depreciation rate. A recent study shows that certain colors depreciate more slowly than others. Yellow, beige, orange, and green vehicles have the slowest depreciation rates. The fastest-depreciating colors include black, brown, and gold. This is probably because those vehicle colors are more common, so there’s a larger supply of them on the market. If you want to get the best resale value for your Taurus, consider purchasing one in a less common color.
Other Costs of Ford Taurus Ownership
Depreciation is just one cost related to owning a Ford Taurus. Here are some other ownership costs to consider.
Insurance
You require insurance to drive a vehicle legally. Insurance companies base their rates on various factors, including the type of vehicle you drive. In general, the Ford Taurus is less expensive to insure than other vehicles. It costs $151 per month on average for full coverage on a Taurus. In comparison, the average cost of full coverage for all vehicles is $177 per month. Your specific Taurus insurance rate may vary depending on other factors, such as where you live and your driving history.
Maintenance
Regular maintenance can keep your Taurus running smoothly, and it can also help the car maintain its value. On average, it’s more expensive to maintain a Ford Taurus than other vehicles. It costs $775 per year to maintain a Taurus, compared to $694 per year for all vehicles. If you own a Taurus for five years, you’ll pay about $3,875 in maintenance costs.
Maintenance for a Taurus can vary depending on its model year. You can compare the maintenance costs for different model years with our graph. Some model years cost more to maintain because they have more problems or reliability issues. Specifically, these model years have known issues that may result in costly repairs or maintenance:
- 2001
- 2004-2007
- 2008-2010
- 2012-2014
The Best Model Year To Buy a Ford Taurus
Based on factors including price and reliability (but not depreciation), our choice for the best Ford Taurus model years to buy are the 2002-2003, 2011, 2015-2016, and 2017-2018, but check out our article on the best and worst years of the Taurus to get the whole story.
Accounting for depreciation in addition to price and reliability, we recommend purchasing a 2011 Ford Taurus. This model year generally has low maintenance costs, and it’s within the sweet spot for depreciation.
Buying a Ford Taurus New vs. Used
| 20-Year Projection | ||
| Years Since Purchased | Depreciated Value | With Inflation |
| 1 | $21,460 | $23,691 |
| 2 | $18,096 | $21,146 |
| 3 | $15,631 | $18,361 |
| 4 | $14,297 | $16,857 |
| 5 | $13,050 | $15,313 |
| 6 | $10,788 | $12,627 |
| 7 | $8,265 | $9,689 |
| 8 | $7,018 | $8,275 |
| 9 | $5,075 | $6,004 |
| 10 | $4,408 | $5,271 |
| 11 | $2,291 | $2,785 |
| 12 | $2,117 | $2,646 |
| 13 | $1,363 | $1,733 |
| 14 | $1,102 | $1,416 |
| 15 | $1,015 | $1,285 |
| 16 | $841 | $1,054 |
| 17 | $348 | $435 |
| 18 | $290 | $365 |
| 19 | $319 | $399 |
| 20 | $290 | $357 |
You can no longer buy a new Taurus because Ford discontinued the model in 2019. However, it’s still helpful to compare the depreciation of a newer model versus an older one as you decide which model year to purchase. After three years of ownership, a 2019 Taurus has accumulated about $20,741 in depreciation, making it worth $14,430 today. Comparatively, a 2016 Taurus has accumulated about $23,188 in depreciation, and it’s currently worth about $9,574.
As you can see, the 2019 Taurus has a higher value, even after accumulating over $20,000 in depreciation. Additionally, it might be better to purchase a newer model year because it may require fewer repairs and less maintenance. When purchasing a used Taurus, do your research to find a model with a lower depreciation cost. Resources like Kelley Blue Book can help you estimate the value of different model years. Don’t forget to account for other ownership costs, such as maintenance and insurance, to determine the long-term value of the vehicle.
Methodology
We base our findings on residual value after depreciation and the cost to maintain or repair each model year of the Ford Taurus per mile. The data in this article applies to a Taurus in a base trim with standard options and equipment. If you purchase a higher trim or a model with advanced options, it may be worth more. Other factors can affect the resale value of your Taurus, including its condition and how you choose to sell it. Factors such as the COVID-era chip shortage can also affect the resale value of a used vehicle.
Keep in mind, there are large economic factors at play here too and the sale of new cars has caused shifts in the used market too. There is a stark difference in the cost of vehicles due to car manufacturers seeking higher profit margins after COVID as detailed by CNN and posted by CBS channel 58:
“… (T)he auto industry saw sky-high profits even as sales plummeted. Domestic manufacturers of cars and car parts saw a profit of $32 billion through the third quarter of 2022 (the latest data available) — their largest profit since 2016. Car dealerships also reported record-breaking profits through Q3, according to auto-retail advisers Haig Partners.
That’s because pandemic-era pent-up consumer demand remained strong as supply shifted, allowing automakers to increase their prices and their profit margins. Cars and trucks were sold nearly as soon as they hit dealership lots, and the average price paid for a vehicle in December soared to a near-record high of $46,382, according to J.D. Power.
Data from the Labor Department’s November Consumer Price Index shows American consumers are paying about 20% more for cars than they were in 2019.
The trend could continue into next year — research website Edmunds expects new-car sales to hit 14.8 million in 2023, a marginal increase from last year but well below pre-pandemic levels.
The auto industry has entered a new era: Less choice, higher prices and larger profit margins. So far it seems to be working for them.”
This shift by car companies to create higher profit margins by taking advantage of the heavily-reported-on chip shortage panic of COVID has had rebounding effects upon the value of used cars.
Be aware that newer years (the latest 3-4 model years) may be inflated in price because of this and depending on how big this problem is for the model you are considering – it may even be inflating the price of the older model years.
Frequently Asked Questions About Vehicle Depreciation
Do Ford Tauruses hold their value?
Since Ford discontinued the Taurus in 2019, most Tauruses on the market have already lost over half their original value. However, the resale value of your Taurus can depend on many factors, including its mileage, condition, and color. In addition, how you choose to sell your Taurus can affect how much you get for it.
For example, if you have a 2019 black Ford Taurus SE with standard equipment in good condition, it will be worth about $13,646 if you trade it in to a dealership. In contrast, you could sell the same vehicle to a private party for $16,083, according to Kelley Blue Book data.
What are the best years of Ford Taurus to buy and which ones should you avoid?
The best model years of the Ford Taurus are 2002-2003, 2011, 2015-2016, and 2017-2018. These model years have good reliability ratings, high ownership scores, and a low overall ownership cost. In particular, the 2011 Ford Taurus is a great buy because it’s within the sweet spot for depreciation.
When purchasing a Taurus, we recommend avoiding these model years:
- 2001
- 2004-2007
- 2008-2010
- 2012-2014
These model years have lower reliability scores and a higher chance of major problems, including engine and brake repairs. While a few of these model years fall within the depreciation sweet spot, they may not offer the best overall value when you account for their lower reliability.
What's high mileage for a Ford Taurus?
Considering this sedan isn’t used for street racing or towing heavy loads, you may find many last longer than expected. However, without knowing how a car was cared for, it’s difficult to determine its life span. If well-maintained, a Taurus could easily accumulate over 200,000 miles. Based on our data, a high-mileage Ford Taurus could be considered anything over 175,000 miles.
Older Ford Taurus models (2001-2012) have an average mileage range of between 100,000 and 275,000 miles. There are quite a few models that have exceeded 200,000 miles. However, the Ford Taurus doesn’t hold its value once the mileage gets high. One mechanical problem could make the Taurus a yard ornament.
How old of a Ford Taurus should you buy to avoid most of the depreciation?
Purchase a 2009-2013 Ford Taurus to avoid the most depreciation. That’s the sweet spot for this sedan. If you want the best overall value for a Taurus, including depreciation, price, and reliability, we recommend buying a 2011 model.
References
(2020.) Our History. Ford Motor Company. Retrieved Oct. 17, 2023, from https://corporate.ford.com/about/history.html
(2023.) Ford Reliability Rating. RepairPal. Retrieved Oct. 17, 2023, from https://repairpal.com/reliability/ford
(2019.) Ford Marks End of Taurus Production as Legacy of Innovation Lives On in Fresh, Expanding Vehicle Lineup. Ford Motor Company. Retrieved Oct. 17, 2023, from https://media.ford.com/content/fordmedia/fna/us/en/news/2019/03/01/ford-marks-end-of-taurus-production-legacy-of-innovation.html
(2022.) Average Annual Miles Per Driver by Age Group. U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved Oct. 17, 2023, from https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/ohim/onh00/bar8.htm
(2023.) The Best and Worst Car Colors for Resale Value. iSeeCars. Retrieved Oct. 17, 2023, from https://www.iseecars.com/car-color-study
(2023.) Ford Taurus Car Insurance: How Much Should You Expect To Pay? Compare.com. Retrieved Oct. 17, 2023, from https://www.compare.com/auto-insurance/vehicles/ford/taurus
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