The average age of all US cars and light trucks in operation exceeded 12 years for the first time in 2021.

https://news.ihsmarkit.com/prviewer/release_only/id/4759502/

Typical vehicle age increased by one-quarter, from 9.6 to 12.1 years since 2002.

Typical vehicle age increased by more than one-half from 7.8 years in 1990.

Typical vehicle age more than doubled from just 5.3 years in 1969.

The rate of increase has remained relatively constant, with improved highways, driving, designs, quality and maintenance allowing the average age to increase by 1 year every 7-8 years.

Data

summary table, page 60.

Click to access NTS-50th-complete-11-30-2021.pdf

page 10, 1969

Click to access o.pdf

page 54, 1977. 1 of several somewhat different figures.

Click to access f.pdf

page 26, 1983.

Click to access vol1pt1.pdf

page 104, 1990

Click to access databook.pdf

page 78, 1995.

Articles

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2021/06/14/used-cars-suvs-trucks-used-car-prices/7638769002/

https://www.autodealertodaymagazine.com/366056/average-age-of-vehicles-on-the-road-increases

https://www.iseecars.com/longest-lasting-cars-study