--- title: "Average Age of Cars on US Roads Hits 12.5 Years, A Record High" description: "The average age of registered cars in the U.S. is 12.5 years old, which is a record high and the highest growth since the Great Recession." date: "2023-05-15" modified: "2023-05-15" authors: - name: "Nico DeMattia" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/nico-demattia" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/average-age-of-cars-on-us-roads-hits-12-5-years-a-record-high" categories: - "News" --- # Average Age of Cars on US Roads Hits 12.5 Years, A Record High ![]() Auto parts retailers in the United States are probably clinking glasses right now as more American drivers hold onto their older cars longer than ever before. According to a report from [S&P Global Mobility](), a combination of low supply and rising prices is causing Americans to shy away from new cars. The average vehicle age in the U.S. is now at 12.5 years, which means it's up three months from last year and at a record high. Not only that, but this last year's growth is also the highest year-over-year growth since 2008 and 2009 during the infamous recession. This trend began during the [COVID-19 pandemic](), as people turned to personal vehicles rather than public transportation. However, because of manufacturing shutdowns and low supply, most of those customers bought used. But since used cars were in such high demand, prices rose dramatically, forcing many customers into even older used cars. That same trend was exacerbated by the war in [Ukraine](), which continues to hurt the supply of semiconductors, hurting the entire vehicle supply chain in turn. Low supply and high demand cause new car prices to go up, forcing many customers to either keep their current cars are buy used ones. Add all of that up and you get Americans driving more old cars than ever before. ![]() According to Todd Campau, associate director of aftermarket solutions for S&P Global Mobility, it's been passenger cars—sedans, coupes, wagons, and hatchbacks—that have driven the rise in average used car age. Passenger car ages have gone up from 13 to 13.6 years since January 2022. Light-duty truck and SUV ages have stayed pretty consistent, with the average age only going up by a couple of months, from 11.5 to 11.8 years old. What makes the average vehicle age going up even more interesting is that electric cars helped new car sales last year. S&P claims new [battery-electric vehicle]() sales increased 58% in 2022, with 758,000 cars sold. S&P also claims that the average BEV age is 3.6 years, down a month from the previous year. Car companies pushing for more affordable EVs, along with federal and state tax incentives, might help more American customers into newer vehicles, which could bring the average age of cars up over the next couple years. *Got tips? Send 'em to tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Nico is a writer and reviewer from New Jersey who probably thinks he’s a lot funnier than he actually is. His love of cars began when he was just a kid playing Gran Turismo 3, grinding out enough race wins with a Mazda Miata to save up for an in-game RUF 911. That passion for small, lightweight sports cars drove his desire to learn more about the industry, get his hands on as many cars as he could, and bring those experiences to life on the page. He cut his teeth writing about BMWs, Volkswagens, and Audis, mostly, and has owned far too many of each. He’s on his fourth 3 Series sedan, but all of his old, cheap German cars have forced him to learn more about car maintenance than his mechanical capability can handle. Too many late nights have been spent scrambling to get a car running by morning so he could get to work. For some reason, he never seems to learn that old Bimmers probably aren’t the best daily drivers. But he loves more than just old German cars. He’ll gladly drive and discuss anything with four (or even three) wheels. Cars aren’t his only passions, though. Nico is also a big nerd and loves movies, video games, comic books, and cares far too much about the New York Giants. So don’t be surprised if you see football references or dumb, obscure movie quotes in any of his car reviews. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()