Average U.S. Vehicle age hits record 12.6 years, as high prices force people to keep them longer

12 comments

1. They also mentioned in the article & CNBC TV report that reliability being better, cars lasting longer and people waiting to buy hybrids or electrics contributes to this.

2. I think it’s more than that. Cars are also more and more reliable. I was debating to buy a new car, but my Corolla from 2005 is still running fine and is still in good condition. I was actually surprised that it’s close to 20 years old. I remember back in early 2000/2010, 15 year-old cars would feel really old. This one doesn’t feel old at all. Other than there’s no bluetooth, no fancy touch screen most cars nowadays have, and no backup cam, it’s fine.

3. I’ve got a 20 year old Toyota Tundra that Gavin Newsome will have to outlaw before I give it up. Fuck the disposable overpriced pieces of shit they are making now.

   No one with a brain would buy one of these EV’s that dies at 60k miles if it doesn’t burn down your house first.

4. I have a 2012 Honda Fit, and it is doing great. Still…. If you go to the junkyard, they are full of Vans. SUVs, and large trucks. And that is what lots of people are driving. So while I agree that many are driving more reliable cars, many more are still driving POS that break down after 10 years. I think it is an indicator that people are less able to,afford a new car.

5. I’ve been delaying for several years, probably several more years…

6. Don’t blame them cost of new cars are crazy

7. I drive a 2007 suv. Thought of upgrading it but the interest rate and quality of car is off putting for me. Gonna drive my car into the ground before considering anything new at this point

8. One of the smartest things you can do is keep your car for as long as it is serviceable.

9. I think we need to boycott all non-essential products until corporations get a greed “reality check”. That will bring prices down, not only for vehicles for everything.

10. To be honest, it’s a good thing, people don’t really need to swap cars out every three years, it’s great for cutting down on waste in my opinion. However its not a good look for the economy when the majority of the population can’t afford a vehicle. Also, a lot of people such as myself have noticed the trend of the auto industry towards planned obsolescence, I don’t want to get a new car just to have to swap it out in 5 years

11. No car payment is the best car payment.

12. Is it high prices forcing it? Or is it just that people are finally realizing how reliable modern cars are? Every finance advice source for years has said “buy a used car, take care of it, and drive it until it would cost more to fix than to replace” or similar.