Passenger cars and light trucks in the United States had an average age of 12.6 years in 2024. This figure represents a slight increase from 12.5 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 19 million units by 2024. The future market At 12.6 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.

As of 2020, Russia was the country with the highest average vehicle age when compared to China, the United States, and Germany. All of the country's registered vehicles were on average just under 14 years of age. By contrast, China's licensed vehicles fleet was overall younger, with a mean of 5.3 years of age.

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 12.1 years, up from 10.3 years in 2009.

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.

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.

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

This report analyses the average age of New Zealand's vehicle fleet. This includes both passenger and commercial vehicles, motorcycles, trucks, buses and other vehicles. The data for this report is sourced from the Ministry of Transport (Te Manatu Waka) and is presented in calendar years.

Motor Vehicles Registration: Estimated Average Age: Campervans: New South Wales data was reported at 15.600 Year in 2021. This records an increase from the previous number of 15.465 Year for 2020. Motor Vehicles Registration: Estimated Average Age: Campervans: New South Wales data is updated yearly, averaging 16.200 Year from Jan 2001 (Median) to 2021, with 21 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 17.300 Year in 2002 and a record low of 15.400 Year in 2019. Motor Vehicles Registration: Estimated Average Age: Campervans: New South Wales 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 report analyses the average age of registered vehicles in Australia. This is measured by the number of years since a vehicle was first manufactured, taking an average across all registered motor vehicles. This includes passenger vehicles, campervans, light commercial vehicles, light and rigid trucks, articulated trucks, non-freight carrying trucks, buses, and motorcycles registered at 31 January each year. The data for this report is sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics and the Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics.

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 2017, the average age of the EU light commercial vehicle fleet was 11 years, while the age of heavy commercial vehicles averaged 12 years. Passenger cars on EU roads were 11.1 years old, on average.

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

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.

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 ...).

Motor Vehicles Registration: Estimated Average Age: Articulated Trucks: Queensland data was reported at 11.700 Year in 2021. This records an increase from the previous number of 11.503 Year for 2020. Motor Vehicles Registration: Estimated Average Age: Articulated Trucks: Queensland data is updated yearly, averaging 11.100 Year from Jan 2001 (Median) to 2021, with 21 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 11.700 Year in 2021 and a record low of 10.200 Year in 2009. Motor Vehicles Registration: Estimated Average Age: Articulated Trucks: Queensland 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: Northern Territory data was reported at 10.100 Year in 2021. This records an increase from the previous number of 9.763 Year for 2020. Motor Vehicles Registration: Estimated Average Age: Northern Territory data is updated yearly, averaging 9.100 Year from Jan 2001 (Median) to 2021, with 21 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 10.100 Year in 2021 and a record low of 8.800 Year in 2010. Motor Vehicles Registration: Estimated Average Age: 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).

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.

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.

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

In 2024, the average selling price of used vehicles came to around 28,400 U.S. dollars. In 2024, new automobiles and light trucks were on average almost 19,200 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.