I used to think that owning a 10-year-old vehicle was a wonderful financial accomplishment. It signaled frugality, discipline, and appreciation for what you have.
However, the latest average age of U.S. vehicles from an S&P 500 Global Mobility report shows Americans are keeping their vehicles much longer than ten years or buying older vehicles on average.
As of 2023, the average age of U.S. cars is 13.6 years and the average age of U.S. light trucks is 11.8 years. The overall total average of U.S. vehicles is an impressive 12.4 years!
The Desire To Drive A Vehicle Longer Than The Average
Here at Financial Samurai, if we want to build more wealth than the average person, we need to be more fiscally responsible than the average person.
Instead of saving only ~5% of our income like the average American, we save at least 20% of our income. Instead of only relying on one job, we earn additional money through side hustles, and so forth.
Given this desire to outperform, we should aim to drive our vehicles longer than the average 12.4 years in America. Spending too much money on a car is one of the top money wasters in this country. By extension, buying new cars too often is another.
We know the average new car price is almost $50,000, an absurd amount given the median household income is only about $75,000. We also know that the median retirement savings balance in America is only around $110,000. The money we spend on cars could be invested for our retirement instead.
Given the average age of U.S. vehicles has climbed to 12.4 years, to outperform, we should bump up driving our vehicles until at least 13 years. So long as the vehicle is properly maintained and safe, driving a vehicle for fifteen years seems reasonable.
Why The Average Age Of A Vehicle In America Getting Older
There are several factors contributing to the increasing average age of vehicles in America:
1) Improved vehicle quality
Vehicles today are generally built with better quality materials and components compared to previous decades. Advancements in manufacturing and engineering have led to more durable and long-lasting vehicles. As a result, cars can remain reliable and functional for longer periods, leading to an increase in their average age.
The Volvo 850 GLT, BMW M3, and MB G500 I owned in the 2000s all had many electrical and mechanical issues. Their problems are why I became friends with a mechanic.
2) Economic factors
The cost of new vehicles has been rising steadily, making it more expensive for many people to purchase brand-new cars. As a result, people are holding onto their vehicles for longer, opting for maintenance and repairs instead of buying new ones.
The cost of both used and new vehicles shot up during the pandemic. In some cases, you could have bought a new vehicle and sold it three years later for the same price.
3) Financing and leasing options
The availability of financing and leasing options has allowed people to spread out the cost of new vehicles over longer terms. This has led to individuals keeping their vehicles longer, as they continue making payments beyond the typical ownership period.
This type of financial engineering can be dangerous for consumers because it enables consumers to buy more car than they can comfortably afford. The same thing happened with the housing market, which resulted in a crash between 2007-2009.
4) Improved technology and features
Modern vehicles are equipped with advanced technology and features, such as improved safety systems, infotainment options, and fuel efficiency. As a result, incremental new car features don’t make as big of an impact anymore.
I still remember being thrilled to go from inserting a CD in the dashboard to using Bluetooth to play music. Nowadays, almost every car has Bluetooth as standard. The same thing goes for backup cameras.
5) Reliability and maintenance
With regular maintenance and proper care, vehicles can easily hit 200,000 miles if so desired. If the average person drives 12,000 miles a year, that’s 16.7 years of car ownership. Repairing a car is usually the more economical way to go.
The Debate On Driving A Safe Car
One of the financial moves I made that reduced my stress after my son was born was buying a larger vehicle. As a new father, my desire to protect and provide for my family went into overdrive. Owning a compact car with paper-thin doors was no longer going to cut it.
My Range Rover Sport was born in July 2015. It is now about eight years old with no mechanical problems or failing parts. I’ve maintained the car on schedule. I also probably change my tires, brakes, and oil slightly quicker than the average person.
So long as my vehicle works, I do not see a problem driving it for seven more years until it is fifteen years old. By 2030, my vehicle will have roughly 80,000 miles on it given I drive about 6,000 miles a year. 80,000 miles is still nothing compared to the 130,000 miles I had on the $2,000 hatchback I drove in 1997.
I just wonder what type of better safety features I will forego by not changing cars sooner. 13 years is a long time for auto engineers to tinker. Hence, at the ten-year mark in 2025, I will have to really consider whether buying a new used vehicle is a good idea.
The Car Buying Plan For Now
As of now, I plan to buy a 2023 Range Rover in 2026. The latest Range Rover was completely redesigned and introduced for sale in 2022. Therefore, buying the 2023 version will help me skip some of the first-year bugs all newly designed vehicles go through.
Buying a three-year-old car from a private party is the sweet spot for getting the best bang for your buck. You skip the largest part of the depreciation curve, yet the car is likely still under warranty with a new-car smell. If you then hold the car for 10 years, you get a total car age of 13 before considering buying another.
However, I might change my mind in 2026 depending on the condition of my existing car, other new cars, and transportation alternatives such as self-driving cars. Waymo and Cruise will expand their self-driving offerings by the end of 2023. If so, I may end up driving even fewer miles on my existing car, thereby extending its useful life.
Finally, the lengthening of the average age of U.S. vehicles bodes well for the average American’s personal finances. This is a bullish data point for the U.S. economy thanks to more disposable income and less car debt. Maybe I should be more optimistic about where we are in the economic cycle after all!
Loading …Reader Questions and Suggestions
Did you know the average age of U.S. vehicles is now over 12 years? How old is your vehicle and how long do you plan to drive your vehicle for?
For more nuanced personal finance content, join 60,000+ others and sign up for the free Financial Samurai newsletter and posts via e-mail. Financial Samurai is one of the largest independently-owned personal finance sites that started in 2009.
