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The average age of cars and light trucks currently in operation in the U.S.
has increased to 11.4 years, according to Polk, a leading global
automotive market intelligence firm.
Passenger cars showed a modest increase in age since 2010, from 11 years to
just 11.4 years at the end of June 2012 (see table). Light trucks
(including pickups and SUVs) show a more sizeable gain in the same timeframe,
from 10.1 years to 11.3 years. Overall, average vehicle age has been increasing
quickly over the past six years.
Polk reports average age based on an analysis of national vehicle
registration data.
The slowdown of the aging of passenger cars directly correlates to the low
sales volumes and the mix of car and truck sales in the U.S. market in 2008 and
2009, a time in which more trucks than cars were registered.
While more trucks were sold over the same timeframe, they showed a faster aging
rate. Polk expects this trend may change in the coming years as CUV and
small SUV populations in the U.S. market have risen in 2010 and 2011 due to
their continued success in the market.
Additionally, the rebound in new vehicle sales in 2011 and for the next couple
of years will most likely slow down the aging rate seen in the market over the
past three years, according to Polk.
2011 marked the end of the U.S. vehicle population decline that has occurred annually since 2008. According to Polk, the total vehicles in operation (VIO) in December 2012 was just under 251.5 million.
This is now the new record high, the previous highest VIO on record was achieved in July 2008, when more than 242 million passenger cars and light trucks were on America's roads.
| YEAR | Total Vehicles* Registered and in Use |
New vehicle Registrations |
Light Vehicles in Operation ** |
Vehicles Scrapped |
Annual Growth |
Median Age (years) Passenger Vehicle |
Median Age (years) Light Trucks |
Median Age (years) Trucks |
Scrappage as % of New Registrations |
Franchised New-Car Dealerships |
Average New Car Retail |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900 | 8,000 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $1,000 | |
| 1901 | 15,000 | N/A | N/A | 87% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $920 | |
| 1902 | 23,000 | N/A | N/A | 53% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $840 | |
| 1903 | 33,000 | N/A | N/A | 43% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $760 | |
| 1904 | 55,000 | N/A | N/A | 66% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $680 | |
| 1905 | 79,000 | N/A | 77,000 | N/A | 44% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $590 |
| 1906 | 108,000 | N/A | 106,000 | N/A | 37% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $500 |
| 1907 | 143,000 | N/A | 140,000 | N/A | 32% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $750 |
| 1908 | 198,000 | N/A | 194,000 | N/A | 38% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $700 |
| 1909 | 312,000 | N/A | 306,000 | N/A | 57% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $850 |
| 1910 | 469,000 | N/A | 458,000 | N/A | 50% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $950 |
| 1911 | 640,000 | N/A | 619,000 | N/A | 36% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $780 |
| 1912 | 944,000 | N/A | 902,000 | N/A | 47% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $690 |
| 1913 | 1,258,000 | N/A | 1,190,000 | N/A | 33% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $600 |
| 1914 | 1,763,000 | N/A | 1,664,000 | N/A | 40% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $550 |
| 1915 | 2,491,000 | N/A | 2,332,000 | N/A | 41% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $490 |
| 1916 | 3,618,000 | N/A | 3,368,000 | N/A | 45% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $440 |
| 1917 | 5,119,000 | N/A | 4,727,000 | N/A | 41% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $360 |
| 1918 | 6,160,000 | N/A | 5,555,000 | N/A | 20% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $360 |
| 1919 | 7,577,000 | N/A | 6,679,000 | N/A | 23% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $525 |
| 1920 | 9,239,000 | N/A | 8,132,000 | N/A | 22% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $575 |
| 1921 | 10,494,000 | N/A | 9,212,000 | N/A | 14% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $440 |
| 1922 | 12,274,000 | N/A | 10,704,000 | N/A | 17% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $355 |
| 1923 | 15,102,000 | N/A | 13,253,000 | N/A | 23% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $393 |
| 1924 | 17,613,000 | N/A | 15,436,000 | N/A | 17% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $375 |
| 1925 | 20,069,000 | N/A | 17,481,000 | N/A | 14% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $375 |
| 1926 | 22,200,000 | N/A | 19,268,000 | N/A | 11% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $380 |
| 1927 | 23,303,000 | N/A | 20,193,000 | N/A | 4.9% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $360 |
| 1928 | 24,689,000 | N/A | 21,362,000 | N/A | 5.9% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $385 |
| 1929 | 26,705,000 | N/A | 23,121,000 | N/A | 8.1% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $425 |
| 1930 | 26,750,000 | N/A | 23,035,000 | N/A | 0.1% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $480 |
| 1931 | 26,094,000 | 2,231,000 | 22,396,000 | N/A | 2.4% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $530 |
| 1932 | 24,391,000 | N/A | 20,901,000 | N/A | 6.5% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $570 |
| 1933 | 24,159,000 | 1,787,000 | 20,657,000 | N/A | 0.9% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $605 |
| 1934 | 25,262,000 | N/A | 21,545,000 | N/A | 4.5% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $625 |
| 1935 | 26,546,000 | 3,419,000 | 22,568,000 | N/A | 5.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $560 |
| 1936 | 28,507,000 | N/A | 24,183,000 | N/A | 7.3% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $665 |
| 1937 | 30,059,000 | 4,153,000 | 25,467,000 | N/A | 5.4% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $760 |
| 1938 | 29,814,000 | N/A | 25,250,000 | N/A | 0.8% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $590 |
| 1939 | 31,010,000 | 3,245,000 | 26,226,000 | N/A | 4.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $700 |
| 1940 | 32,453,000 | N/A | 27,466,000 | N/A | 4.6% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $850 |
| 1941 | 34,894,000 | 4,665,000 | 29,624,000 | N/A | 7.5% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $850 |
| 1942 | 33,004,000 | N/A | 27,973,000 | N/A | 5.4% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $920 |
| 1943 | 30,888,000 | N/A | 26,009,000 | N/A | 6.4% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $900 |
| 1944 | 30,479,000 | N/A | 25,566,000 | N/A | 1.3% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $950 |
| 1945 | 31,035,000 | N/A | 25,797,000 | N/A | 1.8% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $1,020 |
| 1946 | 34,373,000 | N/A | 28,217,000 | N/A | 10% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $1,120 |
| 1947 | 37,841,000 | N/A | 30,849,000 | N/A | 10% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 45,500 | $1,300 |
| 1948 | 41,086,000 | N/A | 33,355,000 | N/A | 8.5% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 46,000 | $1,420 |
| 1949 | 44,690,000 | N/A | 36,458,000 | N/A | 8.7% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 49,200 | $1,420 |
| 1950 | 49,162,000 | N/A | 40,339,000 | N/A | 10% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 47,000 | $1,480 |
| 1951 | 51,913,000 | 6,275,000 | 42,688,000 | N/A | 5.6% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 47,500 | $1,500 |
| 1952 | 53,262,000 | N/A | 43,823,000 | N/A | 2.6% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 46,000 | $1,700 |
| 1953 | 56,217,000 | 6,773,000 | 46,429,000 | N/A | 5.5% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 45,200 | $1,700 |
| 1954 | 58,505,000 | N/A | 48,468,000 | N/A | 4.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 41,900 | $1,700 |
| 1955 | 62,689,000 | 8,481,000 | 52,145,000 | N/A | 7.1% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 40,400 | $1,900 |
| 1956 | 65,148,000 | N/A | 54,211,000 | N/A | 3.9% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 41,000 | $2,050 |
| 1957 | 67,125,000 | 6,927,000 | 55,918,000 | N/A | 3.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 40,000 | $2,120 |
| 1958 | 68,297,000 | N/A | 56,891,000 | N/A | 1.7% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 37,300 | $2,310 |
| 1959 | 71,354,000 | 7,065,000 | 59,454,000 | N/A | 4.4% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 36,400 | $2,480 |
| 1960 | 73,858,000 | N/A | 61,671,000 | N/A | 3.5% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 35,000 | $2,600 |
| 1961 | 75,961,000 | 6,872,000 | 63,421,000 | N/A | 2.8% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 34,500 | $2,850 |
| 1962 | 79,150,000 | N/A | 66,085,000 | N/A | 4.2% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 34,200 | $3,125 |
| 1963 | 82,697,000 | 8,990,000 | 69,038,000 | N/A | 4.4% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 33,700 | $3,233 |
| 1964 | 86,313,000 | 9,494,000 | 71,995,000 | N/A | 4.3% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 33,500 | $3,500 |
| 1965 | 90,358,000 | 10,885,000 | 75,258,000 | N/A | 4.6% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 33,700 | $2,650 |
| 1966 | 93,950,000 | 10,664,000 | 78,125,000 | N/A | 3.9% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 32,900 | $2,650 |
| 1967 | 96,906,000 | 9,882,000 | 80,399,000 | N/A | 3.1% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 32,000 | $2,750 |
| 1968 | 100,898,000 | 11,487,000 | 83,605,000 | N/A | 4.1% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 31,100 | $2,822 |
| 1969 | 105,096,000 | 11,552,000 | 86,858,000 | N/A | 4.1% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 31,000 | $3,270 |
| 1970 | 108,418,000 | 10,211,000 | 89,244,000 | N/A | 3.1% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 30,800 | $3,350 |
| 1971 | 112,986,000 | 12,338,000 | 92,718,000 | N/A | 4.2% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 30,300 | $3,470 |
| 1972 | 118,797,000 | 13,569,000 | 97,082,000 | N/A | 5.1% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 30,100 | $3,520 |
| 1973 | 125,654,000 | 14,572,000 | 101,985,000 | N/A | 5.7% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 30,100 | $3,650 |
| 1974 | 129,934,000 | 11,541,000 | 104,856,000 | N/A | 3.4% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 30,000 | $3,750 |
| 1975 | 132,949,000 | 11,103,000 | 106,706,000 | N/A | 2.3% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 29,600 | $4,250 |
| 1976 | 138,543,000 | 13,291,000 | 110,189,000 | N/A | 4.2% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 29,300 | $5,010 |
| 1977 | 142,093,000 | 14,859,000 | 112,288,000 | N/A | 2.5% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 29,100 | $5,750 |
| 1978 | 148,415,000 | 15,423,000 | 116,573,000 | N/A | 4.4% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 29,000 | $6,300 |
| 1979 | 151,869,000 | 14,153,000 | 118,429,000 | N/A | 2.3% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 28,500 | $6,830 |
| 1980 | 155,796,000 | 11,443,613 | 121,601,000 | N/A | 2.6% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 27,900 | $7,200 |
| 1981 | 158,286,000 | 10,777,980 | 123,098,000 | N/A | 1.9% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 26,350 | $7,500 |
| 1982 | 159,643,000 | 10,538,362 | 123,702,000 | N/A | 0.8% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 25,700 | $7,983 |
| 1983 | 163,749,000 | 12,311,516 | 126,444,000 | N/A | 2.5% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 24,725 | $7,572 |
| 1984 | 166,249,000 | 14,483,141 | 128,158,000 | N/A | 1.5% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 24,725 | $8,495 |
| 1985 | 171,689,000 | 15,725,291 | 127,885,000 | N/A | 3.2% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 24,725 | $9,005 |
| 1986 | 175,700,000 | 16,323,021 | 130,004,000 | N/A | 2.3% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 24,825 | $9,255 |
| 1987 | 178,910,000 | 15,192,946 | 131,482,000 | N/A | 1.8% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 25,150 | $10,305 |
| 1988 | 184,393,000 | 15,791,544 | 133,836,000 | N/A | 3.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 25,025 | $10,400 |
| 1989 | 187,356,000 | 14,845,261 | 134,559,000 | N/A | 1.6% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 25,000 | $15,350 |
| 1990 | 188,798,000 | 14,149,378 | 133,700,000 | N/A | 0.7% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 24,825 | $15,400 |
| 1991 | 181,505,929 | 13,056,604 | 128,300,000 | 10,849,877 | 3.8% | 7.1 | 7.1 | 7.5 | 83.1% | 24,200 | $16,050 |
| 1992 | 181,519,150 | 12,794,078 | 126,581,000 | 12,780,857 | 0.01% | 7.2 | 7.1 | 7.5 | 99.9% | 23,500 | $17,100 |
| 1993 | 186,315,464 | 13,209,549 | 127,327,000 | 8,413,235 | 2.64% | 7.2 | 7.1 | 7.5 | 63.7% | 22,950 | $18,200 |
| 1994 | 188,713,997 | 14,767,042 | 127,883,000 | 12,368,509 | 1.29% | 7.5 | 7.2 | 7.5 | 83.8% | 22,850 | $19,200 |
| 1995 | 193,440,393 | 15,058,699 | 128,387,000 | 10,332,303 | 2.50% | 8.4 | 8.3 | 7.6 | 68.6% | 22,800 | $20,450 |
| 1996 | 198,293,459 | 15,663,707 | 129,728,000 | 10,810,641 | 2.51% | 8.5 | 8.3 | 7.7 | 69.0% | 22,750 | $21,900 |
| 1997 | 201,070,397 | 15,285,529 | 129,749,000 | 12,508,591 | 1.40% | 8.7 | 8.5 | 7.8 | 81.8% | 22,700 | $22,650 |
| 1998 | 205,042,639 | 15,637,540 | 131,839,000 | 11,665,298 | 1.98% | 8.9 | 8.5 | 7.5 | 74.6% | 22,600 | $23,600 |
| 1999 | 209,509,161 | 16,130,124 | N/A | 11,663,602 | 2.18% | 9.1 | 8.5 | 7.1 | 72.3% | 22,400 | $24,450 |
| 2000 | 213,299,313 | 18,088,911 | 205,279,196 | 14,298,759 | 1.81% | 9.1 | 8.4 | 6.9 | 79.0% | 22,250 | $24,900 |
| 2001 | 216,682,936 | 17,505,343 | 209,199,497 | 14,121,720 | 1.59% | 9.3 | 8.4 | 6.9 | 80.7% | 22,150 | $25,800 |
| 2002 | 221,027,121 | 17,639,934 | 213,540,009 | 13,295,749 | 2.00% | 9.8 | 9.4 | 6.9 | 75.4% | 21,800 | $26,150 |
| 2003 | 225,882,103 | 16,939,662 | 218,375,207 | 12,084,680 | 2.20% | 9.9 | 9.5 | 6.8 | 71.3% | 21,725 | $27,550 |
| 2004 | 232,167,136 | 17,419,471 | 224,982,194 | 11,134,438 | 2.78% | 10.0 | 9.5 | 63.9% | 21,650 | $28,050 | |
| 2005 | 239,384,168 | 17,287,680 | 231,986,557 | 10,070,648 | 3.11% | 10.1 | 9.5 | 58.3% | 21,640 | $28,400 | |
| 2006 | 244,642,610 | 17,332,357 | 237,084,889 | 12,073,915 | 2.20% | 10.2 | 9.5 | 69.7% | 21,495 | $28,450 | |
| 2007 | 248,700,997 | 16,765,603 | 240,912,739 | 12,707,216 | 1.66% | 10.3 | 9.6 | 75.8% | 21,200 | $28,800 | |
| 2008 | 249,812,723 | 15,127,946 | 242,081,704 | 14,016,220 | 0.45% | 10.4 | 9.8 | 92.7% | 20,770 | $28,350 | |
| 2009 | 248,972,046 | 9,589,747 | 241,509,108 | 10,430,424 | 0.34% | 10.5 | 10.1 | 108.8% | 20,010 | $28,966 | |
| 2010 | 248,231,351 | 10,570,877 | 240,012,476 | 10,628,811 | 0.30% | 10.8 | 10.5 | 100.5% | 18,460 | $29,793 | |
| 2011 | 248,931,633 | 12,698,406 | 240,504,646 | 11,998,124 | 0.28% | 11.1 | 10.8 | 94.5% | 17,700 | $30,659 | |
| 2012 | 251,497,087 | 14,785,936 | 248,963,800 | 11,781,221 | 1.03% | 11.3 | 11.1 | 82.3% | 17,540 | $30,910 | |
| 2013 | 252,714,696 | 15,524,800 | 248,849,446 | 11,629,077 | 1.50% | 11.4 | 11.4 | 75.6% | 17,635 | $31,762 | |
| 2014 | 258,026,929 | 16,531,070 | 252,600,947 | 11,046,823 | 1.51% | 11.4 | 11.4 | 67.5% | 17,953 | $32,618 | |
| 2015 | 263,326,929 | 17,386,047 | 257,900,000 | 12,086,994 | 2.10% | 11.5 | 11.4 | 69.5% | 16,505 | $33,419 | |
| 2016 | 264,000,000 | 17,465,020 | 260,100,000 | 11,265,020 | 2.40% | 11.6 | 11.6 | 64.5% | 16,708 | $34,449 | |
| 2017 | 272,480,900 | 17,134,733 | 8,653,833 | 3.20% | 11.7 | 11.7 | 50.5% | 18,213 | $34,670 | ||
| 2018 | 276,100,000 | 17,215,163 | 13,515,633 | 1.33% | 11.7 | 11.7 | 78.5% | 16,753 | $35,608 | ||
| 2019 | 281,300,000 | 17,108,156 | 11.8 | 11.8 | 16,682 | $36,824 | |||||
| 2020 | 15,300,000 | 11.9 | 16,695 | $37,724 | |||||||
| 2021 | 15,700,000 | ||||||||||
| 2022 | 16,500,000 | ||||||||||
| YEAR | Total Vehicles* Registered and in Use |
New vehicle Registrations |
Light Vehicles in Operation ** |
Vehicles Scrapped |
Annual Growth |
Median Age (years) Passenger Vehicle |
Median Age (years) Light Trucks |
Median Age (years) Trucks |
Scrappage as % of New Registrations |
Franchised New-Car Dealerships |
Average New Car Retail |
Note:
Data in italics are estimates
Data with asterisk (*)
and in italics are estimates
N/A = Not Available
Beginning 1985, personal passenger vans, passenger minivans and utility-type vehicles were no longer included in automobiles but were counted as trucks.
Since 2000, all personal use vehicles are counted as automobiles.
Heading Legend:
* = Total of all vehicles Registered in USA (Includes Motorcycles,
Busses and Heavy Trucks [Class 4 to 8])
** = Total of Light Vehicles (Cars, SUV, CUV, Light Trucks [Class 1 to 3]) in Operation
