Look far and wide across the automotive landscape, and you won’t find a more beautiful sports coupe than the Lexus LC 500. Since its debut in 2018, this flagship Lexus two-door has been a pure representation of Japanese automotive excellence. The Lexus LC 500 is one of those rare cars that instantly awes unsuspecting onlookers, even from a distance.
From the howling naturally-aspirated V-8 to the hand-finished cabin, the Lexus LC 500 is built to wow its occupants from the first drive. Despite the obvious allure, owning a flagship sports car of any kind is not cheap, and the Lexus LC is no exception. Let’s break down the true ownership cost of this Japanese sports coupe and determine whether the LC 500 is capable of being the ultimate daily driver or nothing more than a weekend toy.
The Lexus LC Is The Ultimate Japanese Flagship
As it currently stands, the Lexus LC 500 is the last remaining Japanese flagship performance vehicle on the market. Sadly, the Nissan GT-R is long gone, and the Acura NSX is a thing of the past. The Lexus LC now carries the torch as the pinnacle of Japanese engineering.
Buying A Lexus LC With Logic Is Wrong
Flagship sports cars are not built to be logical or pragmatic. They are built to stimulate emotions and feelings with every drive. By definition, a flagship model means it’s expensive. Part of the allure is that extravagance, the sensation of knowing you are experiencing something outside the ordinary.
Based on the character of the LC500’s engine, transmission, and chassis, I can almost guarantee you’ll have a better time accelerating in this car than any of the over-hyped turbocharged nonsense out there.
– Garret Donahue for TopSpeed
This is why the look, sound, and feel of the Lexus LC 500 are much more important to prospective owners than raw data calculations or spreadsheet totals. If you are viewing the possibility of purchasing a Lexus LC with a logical or practical lens, you have already committed your first mistake. This car is built for pleasure before all else, reason be damned. If you want to own one someday, adopt this irrational approach to buying.
The Lexus LC Is A True Low Volume Halo Car
Lexus officially confirmed that production of its flagship model will come to a close in August 2026, ending its eight-year-long tenure. Now that we know the end is certain, the Lexus LC 500 is truly the last of a dying breed. During its run, the bestselling year for the Lexus LC was the 2021 model year with 2,782 units sold. Since then, sales numbers have fluctuated in the sub-2,000 unit range, with the lowest figure being in 2019, with 1,219 units sold.
According to our estimates, the total production number of the Lexus LC will be less than 18,000 units produced throughout its entire lifespan. Do these low sales figures mean that the Lexus LC was unsuccessful? Quite the opposite. Halo cars like the Lexus LC are about crafting a brand image built on exclusivity, not moving volume. However, despite the Lexus LC’s scarcity, it still depreciates like a standard luxury performance vehicle. This means that there are solid deals out there for prospective owners, but newer Lexus LC models still fetch high prices because of the relative lack of inventory.
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Myth-Busting Lexus LC Depreciation
The Lexus LC provides an undeniable allure, but at what cost? Once we take into account MSRP, MPG, insurance premiums, upkeep costs, and depreciation, we get a better picture of the true cost of Lexus LC ownership. Yet, how accurate is the available data? Let’s get into that, along with the most important cost considerations when shopping for a Lexus LC.
Kelley Blue Book Is Wrong About The Lexus LC
The starting price of a 2026 Lexus LC 500 is $101,700, while convertible models start at $109,200 before options. According to Kelley Blue Book’s five-year cost-to-own calculations, the total cost of a 2025 LC 500 is $168,835. Yet, how is that figure calculated? They provide that there is $84,615 of depreciation and $84,220 of out-of-pocket expenses by year five. Yet, how accurate is this data? In our independent analysis, it is not very accurate at all. While KBB calculations work well for standard high-volume vehicles, cost accuracy is significantly reduced on low-volume vehicles where data is limited.
Real-World Depreciation Examples
KBB’s biggest mistake and discrepancy in its calculations is in the depreciation data. They believe that a 2025 Lexus LC will depreciate nearly $50,000 within the first year and $84,615 within five years, and that is simply untrue. Current examples on the used market, both certified pre-owned models and private party used models found in online marketplaces, tell a very different story. We did an extensive search nationwide of every Lexus LC model on the market and found these results.
The cheapest Lexus LC 500 we found within a 500-mile radius of the Los Angeles metropolitan area was a 2019 Lexus LC 500 Coupe with 116,000 miles, priced at $46,995. For certified pre-owned (CPO) models, the cheapest LC 500 in the Southern California area was a 2023 LC 500 Convertible with 1,862 miles, priced at $98,951. If we look at an expanded area up to Sacramento, the cheapest CPO LC 500 we could find was a 2021 Lexus LC 500 Coupe with 66,000 miles, priced at $69,998.
As you can see, there is a very wide range of prices depending on mileage and condition. What Kelley Blue Book fails to understand is the actual scarcity of inventory for the Lexus LC 500. There aren’t nearly as many of these Japanese coupes as you may think, and this relatively low inventory means that depreciation is much less aggressive for the Lexus LC when compared to other luxury performance coupes.
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The True Cost Of Owning A Lexus LC 500
Now knowing the true effect of depreciation on the Lexus LC, your perspective on prospective ownership may have been significantly altered. While the Lexus LC may not quite retain value like a Porsche 911, it does offer a significantly more gentle depreciation trend than advertised.
The Lexus LC’s Depreciation Depends On Usage
The real cost of the Lexus LC is entirely dependent on the specific model you buy, how long you plan to keep it, and how you plan to use it. We have dispelled the notion that the Lexus LC may lose up to half its value in a single year from new. Yes, the Lexus LC does depreciate, as do the majority of six-figure luxury cars, but its long-term value is more stable than many of its similarly priced rivals.
The 2019 Lexus LC 500, for $47,000 with 116,000 miles, which was our most affordable example, was priced relative to its above-average usage. Meanwhile, CPO Lexus LC models with low mileages are still holding near MSRP prices, even years after the fact. This demonstrates that there is still high value in low-mileage examples, which is boosted by the general lack of inventory. This means that five-year ownership costs will come down to mileage. A high-mileage LC will depreciate like a standard luxury grand tourer, while clean, low-mileage examples retain impressive value despite age.
The Actual Ownership Costs Of A Lexus LC
Now that we know depreciation is usage-dependent on the Lexus LC, let’s talk about other contributing factors. The naturally aspirated V-8 engine at the helm of the Lexus LC is by no means fuel efficient, but it has mild fuel consumption costs compared to an exotic car like the V-10-powered Lamborghini Huracán. It’s safe to say that if you can afford a Lexus LC, you can afford weekly fill-ups with 91 octane, no matter the price of gasoline. Insurance costs are high, as expected for a six-figure luxury car. Full-coverage annual premiums average around $4,000—among the highest for any Lexus model.
Unlike many of its European luxury rivals, the Lexus LC and its 5.0-liter 2UR V8 engine are widely recognized for their stellar reliability standards. Catastrophic repair risk is negligible when compared to something like a BMW M4 or Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E Performance that depends on highly complex turbocharged engines. Routine maintenance items like brakes, tires, and fluids are still expensive because this is still a high-performance luxury grand tourer, but nothing you may deem unreasonable if accustomed to luxury vehicle ownership. So, while ownership of a Lexus LC is by no means affordable, considering its stunning quality levels and elevated driving experience, it’s well worth the associated costs.
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Scarcity Is A Real Factor With The Lexus LC
Most high-volume luxury coupes, especially those in excess of $100,000 and greater, often get hit hard with depreciation. These high-dollar cars are often viewed as disposable lease specials with limited shelf life, rarely thought of as ideal for long-term ownership. The Lexus LC is not this kind of car.
Low Production Figures Keep Long-Term Value High
As we mentioned, Lexus will end production of the LC this year in August with only about 18,000 units sold in its eight-year tenure. For comparison, BMW sold a record-high 71,500 full M cars in 2025 alone, with the brand’s iconic BMW M3 model achieving a new all-time high in sales. This is where the Lexus LC truly differentiates itself. Search your local used car marketplace or Lexus dealership, and we guarantee your selection of available LC models will be very limited. This limited inventory has kept resale stability high throughout the entire lifespan of the Lexus LC. This is why a 100,000+ mile Lexus LC can still be worth $40,000 to $50,000, regardless of model year. If you are looking for a CPO deal, you may be surprised to see how close the available inventory is to MSRP pricing.
The Best Strategy For Buying A Lexus LC
If you have recently searched for “Lexus LC 500 for sale”, what you need to know as a prospective LC owner is where on the depreciation curve you want to enter. Do not trust sites like Kelley Blue Book that use generic data aggregates to determine cost projections. Instead, you must strategize according to your intent and budget. Buying new gives you the benefit of a factory warranty and customization to your exact liking. If you drive your Lexus LC moderately, the residual value will remain solid, unlike most other luxury coupes.
CPO models can retain part of that OEM credibility for a significant discount on the MSRP price. For the ultimate deal, your best bet is a private party sale. Because of the niche appeal of the Lexus LC, most of these flagship coupes are well-maintained compared to other luxury vehicles. Thus, the true cost of owning a Lexus LC 500 is not a fixed number. Rather, a blend of timing, location, mileage, and buying strategy will determine whether your Lexus LC will be a $50,000 purchase or a $100,000 purchase.
Sources: Toyota, Lexus, Kelley Blue Book, RepairPal, CarEdge