Car holding cost per day calculator.

How holding cost is calculated

Holding cost is what you pay simply because the car is still yours. The calculator converts everything to a daily figure: monthly insurance, storage and depreciation are divided by 30; loan interest is the amount financed × APR ÷ 365 (simple interest, not an amortization schedule); and annual registration is divided by 365. Add them and multiply by days to see the cost of any holding period.

The erosion table applies that to 0, 7, 14, 30, 45, 60 and 90 days. If you enter a profit before holding costs, it subtracts the holding cost to show what is left, and the days until zero is profit before holding ÷ cost per day. That is the point where an unsold car stops making money on your numbers, not a forecast of when it will sell.

Worked example

$90 insurance and $60 storage a month is $5.00 a day. $6,000 financed at 9% adds $1.48 a day, and $120 registration adds $0.33. Total $6.81 a day, $204.25 per 30 days. After 60 days holding costs $408.49, leaving $1,091.51 of the $1,500. After 90 days: $612.74 and $887.26 remain.

Results vary. This page is arithmetic on the numbers you enter; it does not predict what any car will sell for, how long it will take, or whether flipping will earn you anything. A flip can break even or lose money, which is why the inputs matter more than the output. The depreciation field defaults to 0 because a used car’s price drift varies widely; use your own estimate or leave it out.

What this does not cover

• Costs that do not scale with days, such as repairs, fees and taxes: use the profit calculator.
• Lot or flooring-plan contracts with minimum terms or tiered fees; enter an average monthly figure.
• Opportunity cost of the cash tied up beyond the interest you pay.
• Insurance rules for cars you do not drive or title; ask your insurer.

Sources and method

No outside rates or figures are used on this page; every number comes from your inputs and the formulas shown above (retrieved October 2026 review).

The daily interest uses the simple-interest approximation APR ÷ 365. Real loans amortize and vary by lender. For inventory in general see the inventory carrying cost calculator.

Frequently asked questions

What is the holding cost of a car per day?

The sum of insurance, storage, depreciation, loan interest and registration expressed per day. Enter your own monthly figures; the tool does the conversion.

How much does each extra day on the market cost?

It equals your daily holding cost. In the worked example each extra day costs about $6.81 and a month costs about $204.25.

Should I count depreciation?

It is optional. Used cars lose value at different speeds, so the field defaults to 0. Add an estimate if you want a conservative view.

Why is loan interest included?

If you financed the car, interest accrues daily while it sits unsold. The tool uses simple interest: amount financed × APR ÷ 365.

What does days until zero mean?

The number of days of holding that would use up the profit you entered. It shows sensitivity, not an expected selling time.