Summary:
The average age of light vehicles in the U.S. reached a record 12.8 years in 2024, according to S&P Global Mobility. This marks the second consecutive year of a two-month increase in vehicle age. Despite more than 16 million new vehicle registrations last year — the highest since 2019 — it wasn’t enough to counteract the aging of the 289 million-strong U.S. fleet. Passenger car numbers dropped below 100 million for the first time since the 1970s, with consumers continuing to favor light trucks.
Passenger cars now average 14.5 years old, while light trucks are at 11.9 years. Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) aged for the first time in years, reaching 3.7 years, while plug-in hybrids remained steady at 4.9 years. Traditional hybrids actually got younger, dropping from 6.9 to 6.4 years. Hybrid and plug-in hybrid options are currently more popular than full BEVs, influencing these trends.
With many vehicles from high-registration years (2015–2019) now entering the aftermarket, there’s expected growth in repair and maintenance demand. Regional differences in vehicle aging also persist, with states like Montana, Mississippi, and North Dakota showing significantly older fleets, while places like Colorado and Hawaii see slower aging trends.
Auto Service World
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