Three factors, one clear recommendation
Should you keep your car — or buy the one you're eyeing?
Carvest compares the financial tradeoff, how much of an upgrade the new car really is, and how well it fits what you want — then gives you one clear recommendation.
Example result
36 months
Current
2022 Cadillac CT5
48,200 mi · $18,400 payoff
Replacement
2024 Tesla Model 3
12,600 mi · $38,900 price
Financial Tradeoff
KEEP
+$8,822
better off after 3 years
Upgrade Score
60/100
Meaningful Upgrade
Your Fit
74/100
Strong Match
Carvest Recommendation
KEEP
Money, the upgrade, and your fit — weighed together.
Cash flow
−$214/mo
Ending equity
$4,120
Ending mileage
94,200 mi
Why does Carvest recommend KEEP?
One Decision. Three Factors.
Money, upgrade, and you.
Carvest weighs the three things that actually matter when you're deciding whether to switch cars.
Financial Tradeoff
Dollars over 36 months
What will KEEP vs BUY actually cost you over the next 3 years?
Upgrade Score
Scored 0–100
How meaningful is the jump from your current car to the replacement?
Your Fit
Scored 0–100
How well does the replacement match what matters most to you?
Carvest Recommendation
KEEP or BUY
Not just the cheapest choice. The choice that makes the most sense for you.
The financial decision
Know what the switch actually costs.
Carvest compares your total position after 36 months — what you still owe, what the car is worth, and everything you paid along the way — instead of stopping at the monthly payment.
Current
2022 Cadillac CT5
Keep and pay it down
Replacement
2024 Tesla Model 3
Trade in and finance
KEEP
+$8,822
better off after 36 months · example result
The upgrade
A smart trade isn't always much of an upgrade.
The Upgrade Score measures how much better the replacement actually is — newer and lower-mileage, reliability, operating cost, and vehicle step-up.
A car can be a genuine upgrade and still be a poor financial move. Carvest shows you both, separately.
Upgrade Score · example
60/100
Meaningful Upgrade
Newer & lower-mileage
15/25
Reliability improvement
9/15
Operating-cost improvement
9/15
Vehicle & feature step-up
27/45
The fit
A better car isn't better if it isn't better for you.
Tell Carvest what matters most — reliability, running costs, performance, comfort, technology, or practicality. Your Fit shows how well the replacement matches what you actually want.
Your Fit · example
74/100
Strong Match
Improves on what you said matters: lower running costs, newer technology, and lower-mileage.
Ask Carvest
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Once you have your result, keep asking. Carvest answers with your own numbers — and can re-run the decision against a different price, rate or mileage.
You
Why does KEEP win by $8,822?
Carvest
The replacement saves you on energy, but its financing, acquisition costs and ending equity more than offset those savings.
You
What if I could get it for $35,000?
Carvest
At $35,000 the gap narrows considerably — KEEP still leads, but by roughly a third as much.
Example conversation.
The financial model
All the numbers that actually matter.
Carvest builds a 36-month ownership model for both cars — not just a monthly-payment comparison.
What you own
- Vehicle value
- Loan payoff
- Trade equity
- Ending value
- Ending loan balance
- Ending equity
What switching costs
- Purchase price
- Financing
- Interest
- Taxes & fees
- Down payment
- Depreciation
What it costs to run
- Fuel or charging
- Insurance
- Maintenance
- Repairs
- Tires
- Subscriptions
- Mileage reimbursement where applicable
Carvest combines it all into one 36-month financial position for KEEP and one for BUY.
Under the hood
A simple answer backed by a serious model.
Behind every Carvest recommendation is a 36-month ownership model that combines your financing, current equity, future vehicle value, depreciation, fuel or charging costs, insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes and fees — then weighs that financial tradeoff alongside how meaningful the upgrade is and how well the replacement fits what matters to you.
Carvest uses vehicle specifications, EPA efficiency data, government vehicle data, tax and fee rules, maintenance and repair data, vehicle value estimates, and the numbers you enter to build the comparison.
Dozens of moving pieces. One clear KEEP or BUY.
Built for real numbers, not sales pitches.
Carvest doesn't sell cars, loans or insurance. It has no reason to push you toward the trade. Every estimate is labeled, sourced where possible, and editable.
Data Carvest draws on
- Government vehicle & spec data
- EPA fuel-economy ratings
- Fuel & electricity cost estimates
- Vehicle value estimates
- Maintenance & repair data
- State tax and fee rules
Don't guess it. Carvest it.
Know before you trade.
Run your own numbers and see the answer in about two minutes.
Estimates are clearly labeled and always editable. Figures shown on this page are examples.