Model comparison
Ford Transit vs Honda Odyssey
69% vs 65% estimated value retained after five years
See the comparisonHolds value well
Ford Transit Depreciation & Resale Value
This analysis uses used-car listings observed in 2021. The Ford Transit loses about 30.6% of its original value over its first five years, making it a solid value retainer. Skip the new-car premium: a 2017 runs about $12,134 below its original MSRP.
The Ford Transit is a full-size commercial van sold in multiple lengths, roof heights, and passenger or cargo configurations.
Market context: Transit Connect listings are excluded so the analysis stays within the full-size van family.
Compare With
Compare the Ford Transit with its closest rivals
Open a side-by-side comparison of five-year value retention, depreciation by model year, used asking prices, repair costs, MPG and safety data.
At a glance
Key takeaways
After 1 year
11.2%
typical loss
After 3 years
21.5%
typical loss
After 5 years
30.6%
typical loss
Biggest drop
2018→2017
+8.1% in one year
Smart-buy year
2017
~$24,986 median
Depreciation by Model Year
| Model year | Depreciation from MSRP |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 10.0% |
| 2019 | 17.6% |
| 2018 | 20.2% |
| 2017 | 28.3% |
| 2016 | 33.1% |
| 2015 | 35.4% |
Based on 403 2021 used-car listing observations. Each listing's price is adjusted to a standard 12,000 mi/year for its age and compared to the vehicle's original MSRP; figures reflect a 5% asking-to-sale estimate.
Resale Value by Age
Estimated value of a typical Ford Transit as it ages, from a ~$42,273 new price.
| Age | Retained | Est. value | Lost that year | Total lost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 yr | 89% | $37,544 | −$4,729 | −$4,729 |
| 2 yrs | 84% | $35,305 | −$2,239 | −$6,968 |
| 3 yrs | 79% | $33,200 | −$2,105 | −$9,073 |
| 4 yrs | 74% | $31,220 | −$1,980 | −$11,053 |
| 5 yrs | 69% | $29,358 | −$1,862 | −$12,915 |
| 6 yrs | 65% | $27,608 | −$1,750 | −$14,665 |
| 7 yrs | 61% | $25,961 | −$1,647 | −$16,312 |
| 8 yrs | 58% | $24,413 | −$1,548 | −$17,860 |
Interactive tool
What's your Transit worth?
Estimate a used Transit's value from its year and mileage, using our depreciation model.
Estimated value
$31,200
about typical mileage
At 48,000 miles (about typical for a 4-year-old car, ~48,000 mi). Estimate only — actual value depends on condition, trim, options, and local demand.
Cost of ownership
5-Year Cost to Own the Ford Transit
The two biggest costs — depreciation and fuel — over five years for a recent model bought new (~$42,273).
Depreciation
$12,915· 31% of MSRP
Fuel
$19,000· 17 MPG · $3,800/yr
Depreciation + fuel, 5 years$31,915
Fuel cost from the EPA. Maintenance, insurance, taxes, and financing are additional and vary by driver and location.
Should You Buy a Used Ford Transit?
If you're shopping for a Ford Transit, it's a strong long-term value that's easy to resell. The smartest pick is a 2017 (around $24,986) — it sits just past the steepest depreciation, so the first owner already absorbed the biggest loss.
Pros
- Excellent resale value — only about 30.6% lost over five years, so it's easy to sell later.
- Proven longevity — examples regularly list past 150,000 miles and still sell for around $19,893.
Watch-outs
- Holds value so well that clean used examples don't come cheap.
- The steepest single-year drop hits between 2018 and 2017 — buying brand-new costs you that loss.
What Affects Ford Transit Resale Value
The steepest single-year drop happens between the 2018 and 2017 model years, when depreciation jumps 8.1% points. That makes the 2017 Transit a value sweet spot — the previous owner absorbs the worst of the drop, and you still get a relatively recent car.
Where the Ford Transit Was Cheapest in 2021
Median asking price by state (with its share of original MSRP) — a lower share means a better deal for buyers.
Best value states
TN
$21,900· 59.2% of MSRP
WI
$21,935· 60.8% of MSRP
FL
$27,850· 75.4% of MSRP
VA
$31,795· 79.6% of MSRP
OH
$30,969· 82.3% of MSRP
Most expensive states
MI
$39,965· 94.5% of MSRP
OR
$33,995· 87.8% of MSRP
TX
$34,390· 87.6% of MSRP
CA
$32,247· 84.8% of MSRP
OH
$30,969· 82.3% of MSRP
How Long Does the Ford Transit Last?
Mileage profile across 403 listings.
Over 100k mi
25.8%
Over 150k mi
7.2%
Highest mileage
334,396 mi
Price at 120k+ mi
$19,893
Roughly 25.8% of listed Ford Transits have already crossed 100,000 miles, and 7.2% are past 150,000 — a sign these go the distance with maintenance.
Smartest Year to Buy
The 2017 Ford Transit sits just past the steepest depreciation drop, with a typical asking price around $24,986 — about $12,134 off its original MSRP.
View 2017 details →Price & Depreciation by Year
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Ford Transit depreciate in 5 years?
A Ford Transit loses about 30.6% of its original value over five years, based on a mileage-adjusted analysis of real used-car listings. The drop is gradual at first — about 11.2% after one year and 21.5% after three — then keeps compounding with age and mileage. For example, a 2016 Transit that cost about $36,533 new listed for roughly $23,900 in the analyzed cohort. Your exact figure depends on trim, mileage, condition, and local demand, but the five-year mark is where most of the early depreciation has already happened — which is what makes lightly-used examples such good value.
What is the best year to buy a used Ford Transit?
The 2017 Transit is the value sweet spot: it sits just past the model's steepest one-year depreciation drop, so the first owner has already absorbed the biggest loss. Expect to pay around $24,986 for a typical example. As always, a well-maintained, accident-free example with average mileage for its age is worth paying a little more for than a cheap car with a questionable history. Whatever year you settle on, budget for a pre-purchase inspection — at a couple hundred dollars, it's the cheapest insurance against an expensive surprise down the road.
Methodology
Depreciation is computed from 403 real used-car listings. Each listing's asking price is normalized to a standard 12,000 miles per year for the vehicle's age, adjusted by a 5% asking-to-sale estimate, and compared against the original base MSRP for that VIN's trim. Headline 1/3/5-year figures reflect a smoothed retention curve fitted across all model years (the typical trajectory); individual years in the table above can run above or below it with market conditions. Full methodology. Updated May 2021.