However, until Roy Carroll blundered to gift Villa their opening goal, there was little between the sides.
Manager Paul Jewell knows he needs to make sweeping changes and this display will only have reinforced his view that Derby's current squad does not have the mental strength to cope with what he hopes will be a promotion challenge next season.
Villa were tested to begin with but did what they pleased once they were in front and Stiliyan Petrov's magnificent 50-yard shot was the highlight of an impressive day's work for the visitors.
Gareth Barry gave another commanding display in midfield along with Nigel Reo-Coker and the pace of Ashley Young was too much for Derby once they went behind.
Carroll had a game he will want to forget but he was consoled at the end by the Villa goalkeeping coach and the Northern Ireland international will surely bounce back from this.
He made several good saves but was badly at fault when he came for Young's free-kick but missed the ball under pressure from Olof Mellberg.
A minute later, Villa scored again when Young whipped in a cross from the left that Alan Stubbs should have cut out and, although Carroll cleared the ball, John Carew followed up with a shot that went in off Gabriel Agbonlahor.
The game was over in the 36th minute when Carroll cleared straight to Petrov, who chested the ball down and from the edge of the centre circle drove it into the top right corner.
It was a marvellous moment but once again, Derby had given their opponents a helping hand and that will be the abiding memory of their season in the Premier League.
The second half became a training exercise for Villa who could have scored more goals with Barry driving against the legs of Carroll before he found the net in the 58th minute.
Carroll did well to parry Agbonlahor's low drive, but the ball ran loose to Barry who swept it in from six yards.
The Derby fans were already heading for the exits before Agbonlahor scored in the 76th minute when Marlon Harewood got the better of Stubbs to send the striker clear for a low finish inside Carroll's right-hand post.
Derby were carved open again five minute from time when Patrik Berger picked out Harewood on the left and he beat Carroll with another low shot to complete a wonderful day for Villa.
This was the third time this season Derby have been hit for six and they still have to play Arsenal at Pride Park.