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what is the average length of car ownership

by Prof. Vaughn Cartwright II Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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iSeeCars Length of Ownership for Popular Cars

Rank Model # Years of Ownership (Avg.)
17 Ford F-150 8.5
Average for All Cars Average for All Cars 8.4
18 Nissan Sentra 8.4
19 Subaru Outback 8.1
Aug 31 2022

According to an IHS Markit study, the average length of new-vehicle ownership in the U.S. stands at 79.3 months, or nearly seven years.Jan 12, 2018

Full Answer

How long does the average person keep their car?

The average person does not keep their current car for much longer than 10 years, although a report in "Car and Driver" notes that people are keeping their vehicles longer now than in years past. On average, according to research from IHS Markit, people are keeping their cars an average of 11.9 years, an entire month longer than in 2020.

What is the total cost of owning a car?

What is Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)? TCO is an estimate of the total cost to own a car for a five year period. It includes all the expenses spent on fuel, insurance, maintenance, repairs, service, interest on loan payments as well as the losses incurred due to depreciation of the car at the end of the same period. Insurance Finance Service Fuel

How to lower the cost of car ownership?

How can you lower the cost of owning a car?

  • Save on fuel. Aussies spend an average of $134.54 a month on petrol . ...
  • Buy Tyres online. ...
  • Consider buying an older vehicle. ...
  • Find the right insurance deal. ...
  • Repay your car-loan as fast as you can. ...
  • Make life easy with maintenance. ...
  • Keep accurate record of your car expenses. ...
  • Share your car. ...

How long is the average car loan?

  • 36-Month Loan Term: 3.71% Interest Rate
  • 48-Month Loan Term: 3.81% Interest Rate
  • 60-Month Loan Term: 3.93% Interest Rate
  • 72-Month Loan Term: 3.78% Interest Rate

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How long does the average person keep their car?

Americans own their longest-kept cars for an average of about 8 years. In our sample, 64% have only owned their current cars for 5 years or less. 80% of Americans considered cost before buying a new car. Top factors that Americans consider before purchasing a new car are cost, fuel economy, maintenance and performance.

How long does the average person own the same car?

According to IHS, the average length of ownership was a record 79.3 months, or nearly seven years.

How many years should you keep a car?

Many car owners make the mistake of assuming that they need to replace their vehicles every few years. The average age of a vehicle on the road is about 11 years, but most drivers keep a car for about six years. Here are some factors to consider when deciding if it's time for a newer model.

How long should I keep a car before selling it?

It's a good idea to sell your car before it hits 60,000 miles if you don't want to spend a lot of money on repairs and replacement parts. During this mileage bracket, your car should be about five years old, meaning it'll still command a substantial amount.

When should you replace your car?

Know what your car is worth. Use tools available from sites like Kelley Blue Book and Edmunds to determine trade-in or retail value of cars similar to yours. A good rule of thumb is to employ the so-called “50-percent rule.” When repairs cost 50 percent of what your car is worth, it's time to replace.

Should I sell my car after 3 years?

While it's completely up to you whether or not you sell up to buy a new model, if you want to get the most out of your current car it's best to wait until it's at least three years old, otherwise, you stand to lose a pretty substantial amount of money. Ultimately, the choice is yours.

Why you should keep driving your old car?

Keeping your old car makes sense if: You're on a Tight Budget. You'll almost always save money by hanging on to your old car for as long as possible. Even if a new car costs less to repair and fill up, those savings are dwarfed by the upfront cost, monthly payments, and higher insurance.

How long do people hold onto their cars?

The latest data compiled by global market intelligence firm R.L. Polk & Co has found that Americans are now holding onto their new vehicles for a record 71.4 months. On the used vehicle side, that interval has risen to 49.9 months, a figure that also represents a new high mark. Collectively, the ownership period currently stands at 57 months, up from about 38 months back in 2002.

How old are light trucks?

Last month, a corollary Polk research study found that the average age of the passenger car and light truck fleet in America has now reached an all-time high of 10.8 years.

Average Years of Ownership – 11.4 Years

Earning the distinction as the new vehicle kept the longest by its original owners is the Toyota Land Cruiser. With an average ownership duration of 11.4 years, the Land Cruiser remains a hallmark for long-lasting durability and quality.

Average Years of Ownership – 10.3 Years

Earning the third highest length of ownership among new car buyers, the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class boasts an impressive 10.3-years of average ownership length. For over half a century, the SL has remained a perennial favorite in the luxury grand-touring coupe segment with exhilarating performance, seductive styling, and class-leading comfort.

Average Years of Ownership – 10.1 Years

When it comes to full-size SUVs, no other model is able to match the impressive 10.1 years of average ownership length of the Ford Expedition. Both the Expedition and Expedition MAX offer spacious seating for the whole crew in addition to powerful EcoBoost performance that balances muscle with efficiency.

Average Years of Ownership – 9.9 Years

No other sports car has captured the hearts of its owners quite like the iconic Porsche 911. With an average ownership length of 9.9 years, the data speaks for itself.

Average Years of Ownership – 9.4 Years

When it comes to midsize sedans, one of the most instantly recognizable nameplates in the segment is the Honda Accord. Outstanding value, groundbreaking safety innovations, and sharp styling are just a handful of reasons why buyers have chosen the Accord over its competition for decades.

Which car has the longest ownership?

The longest-kept passenger car is the Toyota Avalon , which has an average length of car ownership of 9.7 years.

How long do cars last?

The average car age for how long all vehicles are kept is 8.4 years. Earning the distinction as the new car that owners keep the longest is the Toyota Land Cruiser, which is kept for an average of 11.4 years before being sold.

How Long Do People Keep Cars?

The average car age for how long all vehicles are kept is 8.4 years.

How long are new SUVs kept?

On average, new SUVs are kept for 8.3 years. When examining the SUV segment to see which are kept the longest, full-size models edge out midsize models by a margin of six to four. The Toyota Land Cruiser is the longest-kept SUV. Here are the new SUVs that are kept the longest.

How long do pickup trucks last?

As a vehicle segment, pickup trucks are kept longer than the overall average – 8.7 years versus 8.4 years.

How long do you hold onto a car?

The average length of ownership for these new cars before getting resold ranges from 6.8 to 9.6 years and none of the popular cars rank on the overall top 10 list. Here is how long owners keep the most popular cars:

What is the longest kept car brand?

iSeeCars also examined the data to determine the longest-kept new cars on the brand level. The three longest-kept car brands are Toyota, Honda, and Mercedes-Benz.

How long do people keep their cars?

On average, according to research from IHS Markit, people are keeping their cars an average of 11.9 years, an entire month longer than in 2020. However, new cars are usually kept for even less time, at six years, because people want the latest features and technology, in addition to the new vehicle.

How many miles can you drive on a car?

With proper maintenance habits, you can probably get nearly 200,000 miles or more on just about any car. However, there are specific makes known for long-lasting vehicles, including Lexus, Buick, Audi, Toyota, and Honda.

What Factors Into Vehicle Longevity?

Several things affect how long your car will last, including the environment you live in, the driving conditions, weather, whether it's in a garage or outside, how many and what type of miles you drive, how well it's maintained and, to an extent, the type of car it is. Any vehicle that is well maintained stands a good chance of having a long life.

What happens if you get rid of your car after paying it off?

If you get rid of your current car as soon as you've paid it off, you're essentially signing up to make monthly payments forever. Not only that, but pricing (and your payments) are likely to be higher on a new vehicle versus your old one.

What to remember when buying a car?

Another thing to remember is that you should pick a car that you want. If you compromise on features, buy more or less than you need, or settle for a vehicle that you don't actually want, you'll likely be tempted to get rid of it sooner than you need to. Look for a car that you'll enjoy having for a long time.

What to look for when buying a new car?

If you're buying a new car, another thing you'll probably be looking closely at is the latest safety and technology upgrades. Some features to keep in mind include automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and forward collision warning. Electronic stability control and rear cameras are also worth seeking out, although they're now required on new cars sold in the U.S.

Which is better, a garaged car or a highway?

A temperate climate is better than an extremely hot or cold one, while a garaged vehicle typically wears better than one kept outside. Highway miles are usually better than stop-and-go city miles, and a car that doesn't get driven as much will have less mileage on it.

How many people in America don't own a car?

National vehicle ownership statistics. According to 2019 census figures, 8.7% of households in America do not have access to a vehicle — which is a decrease of 0.4 percentage points compared to 2010.

Which city has the highest percentage of households with at least one vehicle?

Of the 50 largest metropolitan statistical areas in the U.S., Raleigh, North Carolina ranks as having the highest percentage of households with access to at least one vehicle. Furthermore,. Figures come from 2019 U.S. Census American Community Survey.

How many vehicles were registered in 2019?

In 2019, there were approximately 108,547,706 registered vehicles in the U.S. compared to 111,242,132 in 2018 — a decrease of nearly two million vehicles. Washington, Nevada and California have seen the biggest increases in vehicle registrations from 2012 to 2018.

Where does the data on vehicle registrations come from?

Data on vehicle registrations by state came from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration. For purposes of estimating state and city level car ownership, we utilized census data on vehicle access by household. We considered households that reported having access to four or more vehicles in their home as having four vehicles.

Which state has the highest vehicle registration rate?

Adjusting for population, Delaware, Alabama and Montana have the largest rates of vehicle registrations per capita according to 2019 figures — the most recent available. In these states, there were over 40 registered vehicles for every 100 residents, which is 20% greater than the national average of 33.2.

Which states have the most registered vehicles?

California, Texas and Florida lead the nation in the number of registered vehicles, accounting for 28% of the nationwide total. This is fitting, considering these states make up 27% of the U.S. populace. In 2019, there were approximately 108,547,706 registered vehicles in the U.S. compared to 111,242,132 in 2018 — a decrease ...

Which cities are low in vehicle ownership?

Cities located in the Northeast — including New York City, Philadelphia and Boston — ranked low for vehicle ownership.

How long do you own a car?

According to IHS, the average length of ownership was a record 79.3 months, or nearly seven years.

How much does a full size SUV cost?

While a compact SUV averages $28,395, a full-size pickup runs $45,252 and a full-size SUV is priced at $60,670 on average.

Is a car a depreciating asset?

Lindland says buyers should consider the overall cost of the vehicle, not just the monthly payment, given that a car is a depreciating asset. “What you’re going to find is you’re going to owe more on that vehicle than its worth for years to come,” she said.

How long do you keep a Land Cruiser?

The current-generation Land Cruiser is an underwhelming choice, but original owners keep it an average of 10.6 years, according to the website. In total, the top 10 longest-owned cars include four Toyota models, one Porsche, two Fords, one Mercedes-Benz, one Chevrolet and one Audi. The list is heavy on SUVs and sports cars; traditional compact and mid-size sedans, including established models like the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord, are notably absent.

When did the bottom three cars originate?

Indeed, among the average age for popular models, the bottom three cars originated in the mid-2000s, a factor that would eliminate any original sales for especially old examples. With those caveats in mind, here’s the study’s average age of original ownership among 20 popular cars:

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1.Survey: Average length of car ownership in America - The …

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Url:https://www.iseecars.com/how-long-people-keep-cars-study

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