Passenger cars and light trucks in the United States had an average age of **** years in 2024. This figure represents a slight increase from **** years in 2023. New vehicle sales decline amid pandemic Long-term auto loans and good quality might be reasons why American motorists keep their automobiles longer. That said, vehicle sales in the United States declined dramatically in the second quarter of 2020. As a result, U.S. vehicle age is expected to rise further as U.S. motorists put off vehicle purchases among the COVID-19 crisis in the country and took an interest in buying used cars. Throughout 2022 and 2023, U.S. vehicle sales remained relatively stable, despite geopolitical disruptions. Amid supply chain shortages, North American automobile sales are projected to increase to around ** million units by 2024. The future market At **** years old, the average vehicle age in the United States is at a record high but the newest cars on the market are entering the next era of automotive technology. Shared mobility, automation, and electrification are several key aspects of the modernization of the motor industry. Electric vehicles are anticipated to witness growing demand in the U.S. Already, electric cars are the favored choice in other important auto markets, including China.

On average, motorists in the United States continue to hold on to their vehicles for a longer time. In 2021, the average age of light vehicles on U.S. roads stood at **** years, up from **** years in 2009.

Around **** of all car owners in the U.S. are over the age of 60 years old. High upfront and running costs can be expensive, and many Americans must either save up or wait until they have the income to afford vehicle ownership.

Graph and download economic data for Consumer Unit Characteristics: Number of Vehicles by Age: from Age 25 to 34 (CXUVEHICLESLB0403M) from 1984 to 2023 about consumer unit, age, 25 years +, vehicles, and USA.

Forecast: Light Vehicles Average Age in Operation in the US 2024 - 2028 Discover more data with ReportLinker!

Motor Vehicles Registration: Estimated Average Age: Light Rigid Trucks: Northern Territory data was reported at 13.200 Year in 2021. This records an increase from the previous number of 12.782 Year for 2020. Motor Vehicles Registration: Estimated Average Age: Light Rigid Trucks: Northern Territory data is updated yearly, averaging 10.800 Year from Jan 2001 (Median) to 2021, with 21 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 13.200 Year in 2021 and a record low of 7.600 Year in 2001. Motor Vehicles Registration: Estimated Average Age: Light Rigid Trucks: Northern Territory data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Australian Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Australia – Table AU.TA004: Motor Vehicles Registration: Estimated Average Age: by Type and State (Discontinued).

The average vehicle fleet age is an equally weighted average of automobiles and trucks that are registered in the United States. Data is sourced from the US Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transport Statistics.

With after-sales services and vehicle maintenance improvement, passenger cars grew to 6.6 years old on average in 2020, yet comparatively younger than the European and North American markets. China's average age of passenger vehicles was projected to increase steadily to 8.7 years by 2030.

As of 2020, Russia was the country with the highest average vehicle age when compared to China, the United States, and Germany. All the country's registered vehicles were on average just under ** years of age. By contrast, China's licensed vehicle fleet was overall younger, with a mean age of *** years.

Motor Vehicles Registration: Estimated Average Age: Non Freight Carrying Trucks: South Australia data was reported at 15.200 Year in 2021. This records an increase from the previous number of 15.193 Year for 2020. Motor Vehicles Registration: Estimated Average Age: Non Freight Carrying Trucks: South Australia data is updated yearly, averaging 14.900 Year from Jan 2001 (Median) to 2021, with 21 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 15.200 Year in 2021 and a record low of 14.200 Year in 2001. Motor Vehicles Registration: Estimated Average Age: Non Freight Carrying Trucks: South Australia data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Australian Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Australia – Table AU.TA004: Motor Vehicles Registration: Estimated Average Age: by Type and State (Discontinued).

In 2024, the average selling price of used vehicles came to around ****** U.S. dollars. In 2024, new automobiles and light trucks were on average almost ****** U.S. dollars more expensive than used light vehicles. The used car boom As the price for new vehicles has been increasing, more Americans are turning towards buying second-hand cars and light trucks. Buying new cars and light trucks is typically seen as a privilege that few may do often. Generally, used vehicle sales are on the rise in most countries. Thanks to ever-improving technology, automobiles may keep running for many years and remain in good condition. This allows the average age of light vehicles in operation in the United States to increase slowly. Although new cars are often seen as status symbols, vintage cars are also very popular in the United States, the main reason for this trend being aesthetic and cultural values.

Motor Vehicles Registration: Estimated Average Age: Motor Cycles: Tasmania data was reported at 14.300 Year in 2021. This records an increase from the previous number of 13.832 Year for 2020. Motor Vehicles Registration: Estimated Average Age: Motor Cycles: Tasmania data is updated yearly, averaging 10.700 Year from Jan 2001 (Median) to 2021, with 21 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 14.300 Year in 2021 and a record low of 10.000 Year in 2009. Motor Vehicles Registration: Estimated Average Age: Motor Cycles: Tasmania data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Australian Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Australia – Table AU.TA004: Motor Vehicles Registration: Estimated Average Age: by Type and State (Discontinued).

This table contains 30 series, with data for years 2001 - 2009 (not all combinations necessarily have data for all years), and was last released on 2014-06-19. This table contains data described by the following dimensions (Not all combinations are available): Geography (1 items: Canada ...), Type of vehicle (5 items: Total; all vehicles; Trucks 15 tonnes and over; Vehicles up to 4.5 tonnes; Trucks 4.5 tonnes to 14.9 tonnes ...), Age of vehicle model (6 items: Total; all ages of vehicle model; 6 to 9 years; Under 3 years; 3 to 5 years ...).

This report analyses the average age of cars and Light Goods Vehicles (LGV) in the United Kingdom. The data is published by the Department for Transport in addition to estimates by IBISWorld. The data represents the average age of the UK car and LGV stock in each calendar year.

Motor Vehicles Registration: Estimated Average Age: Campervans: Tasmania data was reported at 22.800 Year in 2021. This records an increase from the previous number of 22.348 Year for 2020. Motor Vehicles Registration: Estimated Average Age: Campervans: Tasmania data is updated yearly, averaging 20.500 Year from Jan 2001 (Median) to 2021, with 21 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 22.800 Year in 2021 and a record low of 19.500 Year in 2001. Motor Vehicles Registration: Estimated Average Age: Campervans: Tasmania data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Australian Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Australia – Table AU.TA004: Motor Vehicles Registration: Estimated Average Age: by Type and State (Discontinued).

Motor Vehicles Registration: Estimated Average Age: Heavy Rigid Trucks: Australian Capital Territory data was reported at 11.400 Year in 2021. This records a decrease from the previous number of 11.519 Year for 2020. Motor Vehicles Registration: Estimated Average Age: Heavy Rigid Trucks: Australian Capital Territory data is updated yearly, averaging 11.400 Year from Jan 2001 (Median) to 2021, with 21 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 11.700 Year in 2019 and a record low of 10.900 Year in 2010. Motor Vehicles Registration: Estimated Average Age: Heavy Rigid Trucks: Australian Capital Territory data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Australian Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Australia – Table AU.TA004: Motor Vehicles Registration: Estimated Average Age: by Type and State (Discontinued).

In the fourth quarter of 2024, there were around ***** million vehicles operating on roads throughout the United States. Almost **** million used vehicles changed owners in the U.S. between the fourth quarter of 2023 and the fourth quarter of 2024, while new registrations of vehicles came to about **** million units during that period. Automotive market disparities The number of licensed drivers had been steadily increasing up to just under ******* in 2023, but the automotive market has been impacted by economic developments over the past few years. The U.S. vehicle fleet is aging, reflected by the slow increase in the average vehicle age from **** years in 2018 to over ** years in 2024. This is in part due to market disparities. The average selling price of new vehicles has been increasing to nearly ****** U.S. dollars in 2024, up from under ****** in 2016. Used car prices have been declining after the chip shortages linked to the COVID-19 pandemic, reaching around ****** U.S. dollars in 2024. The majority of U.S. car owners earned more than ****** U.S. dollars per years, with the ****** to ****** income group owning over ** percent of the vehicles in use. The boom of the used vehicle market Close to ************* of new car buyers were born between 1946 and 1981, with Gen X being the leading consumers by age group for both the new and used vehicle market. Used light vehicle sales have been steadily increasing since 2010, representing well over double the size of the new light vehicle market in 2024. With a product range priced below new vehicle prices, used vehicles are gaining momentum in the United States. The average American household spends some ***** U.S. dollars on vehicle purchases annually, with consumers in income groups earning above 100,000 U.S. dollars per year spending above ***** dollars annually on car buying. Used vehicle financing options are naturally more affordable than new vehicle financing options, with an average monthly payment over *** dollars for loan payments for new vehicles.

The average age of passenger cars on the road in the European Union was 12 years in 2021, while the average truck was about 14.2 years old. Germany and the United Kingdom are the leading passenger car markets in Europe as of 2022.

Lithuanians hold on to their cars the longest

Of European countries, the oldest passenger cars were found in Eastern Europe in 2019. The average car in Lithuania was almost 17 years old. High-income countries like Luxembourg had a comparatively younger fleet. The average age of passenger cars in Luxembourg came to about 6.5 years.

World fleet comparison

Across the Atlantic the car and light truck fleet had a slightly higher average age to that reported in the European Union. Light vehicles registered in the United States were on average 12.1 years old. Comparatively, the age of passenger cars in Japan was noticeably lower. The average age of passenger cars on Japanese roads was just over nine years old.

Includes the number and average age of road vehicles per vehicle sex at the end of June and December

This dataset provides information on the number of vehicles in circulation, vehicles per 1000 inhabitants, vehicles per km2 and the average age according to vehicle types and age ranges for each of the Canary Islands and municipalities. Annual data since 2010.