Ram 1500 Depreciation & Resale Value

The 2021 Ram 1500 is our best all-around value starting point. Its all-trim median ask is only $9,225 more than 2020 while average mileage is about 20,184 miles lower. It sits comfortably inside the fifth-generation run before the 2025 powertrain reset. Confirm that the truck is the newer body rather than a Classic, then match engine, eTorque equipment, cab, bed, drivetrain, axle, trim, mileage, history, and condition. The best year filter cannot replace a truck-specific inspection.

Start with a 2018 Express or Big Horn. The current median ask is around $20,089, although average mileage is near 104,676. Express is the simpler price baseline and Big Horn adds common daily-use equipment. At this mileage, prioritize records, frame and underbody condition, drivetrain behavior, cooling, leaks, tires, suspension, modifications, and towing history. Preserve budget for immediate work rather than buying on trim alone.

The 2021 has the stronger numbers in this snapshot. Its median ask is only $9,225 more than 2020 and its listings average about 20,184 fewer miles. Both should be fifth-generation trucks when correctly classified, making the comparison useful. Still match engine, cab, bed, drivetrain, axle, trim, and packages, and verify that neither listing is a Ram 1500 Classic. Use 2021 as the preferred search filter, then let records, inspection, exact capability, and out-the-door price decide.

The data favors 2023 for buyers who can absorb a median premium of $1,011 more than 2022. The 2023 listings average about 24,629 fewer miles, a meaningful usage difference. The year gap is still smaller than many engine, trim, package, and condition differences. Compare the same body family, powertrain, cab, bed, drivetrain, and equipment. A cleaner or better-optioned 2022 can win, but 2023 is the stronger first search when configurations and transaction terms remain similar.

This dataset cannot isolate that effect. Listing feeds may label eTorque-equipped trucks as hybrid, but the eTorque mild-hybrid system appears across different engines, years, bodies, trims, and original prices. A blended retention comparison would mostly measure those differences. Compare same-year trucks with the same engine, cab, bed, drivetrain, trim, mileage, and condition, then verify the exact eTorque equipment and service history. Value its operating characteristics for your use case rather than assuming the label guarantees a resale premium.

Treat the seller's title as unverified until the VIN and build information identify the truck. The fifth-generation Ram 1500 launched for 2019, while the prior body continued as Ram 1500 Classic, so model year alone cannot separate them. Retrieve the original window sticker or build sheet and confirm the model designation, body, dashboard, exterior, engine, cab, bed, drivetrain, axle ratio, payload label, and packages. Compare photos with official year-specific material, but use VIN data for the final determination. Keep Classic trucks in a pricing set with other Classics and fifth-generation trucks with the newer body. The two groups differ in structure, cabin, equipment, original price, and market position. Also verify whether a listing marked hybrid refers to an eTorque mild-hybrid system and which engine it accompanies. Once identity is established, compare mileage, history, condition, modifications, towing use, dealer fees, and inspection findings. Without this step, a seemingly cheap same-year Ram may simply be a different generation rather than a better deal. Walk away when the seller cannot establish which truck is actually being offered.

39.2% of Ram 1500 listings in this dataset exceed 100,000 miles, while trucks at 120,000 miles or more have a median ask around $16,190. That describes listed inventory, not a survival probability. A high-mileage truck can make sense with complete records, a clean structural and frame inspection, and enough discount for likely work. Inspect powertrain behavior, cooling, leaks, tires, suspension, brakes, towing wear, modifications, and rust before negotiating.

Our mileage-adjusted fitted curve estimates about 38.1% depreciation after five years, leaving roughly 61.9% of original value. The estimate uses 1,610 current listings with a common asking-to-sale adjustment. It is a nameplate trajectory, not a valuation for one truck. Classic versus new body, engine, eTorque, cab, bed, drivetrain, axle, trim, original price, mileage, condition, and use history can all move the result. Calculate expected dollar loss from the exact truck and negotiated price.