Latest news with #RACFoundation
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Average age of motors on the road reaches record high in the UK
The average motor in the UK is now nearly ten years old, according to analysis of the national car parc. A review of official vehicle registrations figures by the RAC Foundation found that the average car on the country's roads at the end of 2024 was nine years and ten months - the oldest since record began. This is up from seven years and five months a decade earlier at the end of 2015. And back in 2003, the average age was just six year and a month. The transport policy and research organisation said the figures suggest both positives and negatives for Britain's drivers. Firstly, the quality of reliability of the average car appears to be improving, meaning vehicles are lasting the test of time far better than they have done previously. However, the numbers also suggest that inflated new model prices - especially during a cost-of-living squeeze - and the transition to electric vehicles has put motorists off changing their cars. Analysing the data by fuel type, petrol cars have the oldest average age at ten years and four months, followed by diesels at ten years and one month. Understandably, newer technology has a younger shelf life. The average plug-in hybrid, for instance, was three years and four months old at the end of 2024, while an EV is typically just two years and six months old. Of all the cars on the road at the end of 2024, more than two in five (40.7 per cent) were at least ten years old. 'On the plus side, for motorists, the design and build-quality of modern cars means they are looking good and running reliably for far longer - the days of them rusting away before your eyes are well and truly behind us. 'Even a twenty-year-old car with a full service-history can be a good bet for someone seeking a bargain buy that still looks up to date. 'The bad news for the environment is that the overall ageing of the fleet means the replacement of fossil-fuelled cars by those with very low or zero emissions is not happening as quickly as policy makers hoped. 'After they peaked in 2016, lower annual new car sales figures bear testament to a host of issues – Covid, the cost-of-living crisis, mixed messaging over the ban on the sales of new petrol and diesel models - plus the generally good roadworthiness of older cars meaning owners can comfortably adopt a wait-and-see approach as more new electric vehicles arrive in dealers' showrooms and the public charging network grows.'
Telegraph
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Telegraph
Old bangers dominate Britain's roads as average age of a car hits 10 years
The age of the average British car has risen to a record of almost 10 years old as drivers hang on to their vehicles for longer. Research by the RAC Foundation has found that motorists are shunning new purchases and instead taking advantage of the improved quality of modern vehicles, which allows them to run for a greater period. It comes after separate figures have shown the average cost of a new car has risen faster than inflation since 2013. While extending the life of older cars may be beneficial for hard-up households, the motoring charity argued this was 'bad news for the environment' because it will slow the switch to electric vehicles (EVs). It found the average age of cars licenced in the UK at the end of last year was nine years and 10 months, up from seven years and five months at the end of 2015. Petrol cars were the oldest on average, at 10 years and four months. That was followed by diesels at 10 years and one month. Meanwhile, the average plug-in hybrid was three years and four months old, while battery EVs were typically just two years and six months old. A total of nearly 34 million cars were licenced at the end of last year. Of these, 40.7pc were at least a decade old, compared with 32.7pc at the end of 2015. Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said: 'On the plus side, for motorists, the design and build-quality of modern cars means they are looking good and running reliably for far longer. 'The days of them rusting away before your eyes are well and truly behind us. 'Even a 20-year-old car with a full service history can be a good bet for someone seeking a bargain buy that still looks up to date. 'The bad news for the environment is that the overall ageing of the fleet means the replacement of fossil-fuelled cars by those with very low or zero emissions is not happening as quickly as policy-makers hoped.' For Britain to hit its net zero targets, he said there would need to be 'a 10-fold increase' in the number of EVs on the road. At the end of 2024, the total stood at about 1.3 million. 'That is going to require a huge push,' Mr Goodings added. It comes after experts have warned that rising regulatory standards, though intended to improve safety for drivers and reduce vehicle emissions, are driving up the cost of the average car. The average price of a new petrol car has gone up from £27,871 to £45,218 since 2013, according to data compiled by Cox Automotive, an increase of 62pc. That is a much bigger rise than general consumer price inflation, which has increased by around 35pc over the same period. Experts say the trend is being driven by a preference for bigger cars with more room for luxuries, as well as safety rules or green regulations that require manufacturers to reduce exhaust emissions and install protective technologies as standard. A total of 7.6 million used cars were sold in the UK last year, a 5.5pc rise compared to 2023, according to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders (SMMT). The most popular vehicle was the Ford Fiesta, with more than 300,000 sold. However, the SMMT has warned that second-hand trade relies on a healthy market for new cars, which remains subdued. The lobby group has called on the Government to slash VAT on new electric vehicles to 5pc to stimulate demand. It said: 'The automotive industry cannot force consumers to buy zero emission vehicles, which because of their higher production costs, are naturally more expensive than petrol or diesel vehicles.'
The Independent
3 days ago
- Automotive
- The Independent
The average age of cars on UK roads has reached a record high
The average age of cars on UK roads has reached a record high of nearly 10 years, according to research by the RAC Foundation. This figure, standing at nine years and 10 months at the end of last year, marks a significant increase from seven years and five months recorded in 2015. While improved build-quality allows modern cars to last longer, this trend is considered 'bad news for the environment' as it slows the transition to electric vehicles. Petrol cars have the oldest average age at 10 years and four months, in contrast to battery electric cars which are typically just two years and six months old. The RAC Foundation warns that a tenfold increase in battery electric cars is required by 2030 to meet emission reduction targets, necessitating a substantial effort.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Average age of UK cars reaches record high of almost 10 years
The average age of cars on UK roads has reached a record high of nearly 10 years, sparking environmental fears. Motoring research charity the RAC Foundation, which conducted the research, said drivers are benefiting from the improved 'build-quality' of modern cars, but this is 'bad news for the environment' as it is slowing the switch to electric models. It found the average age of cars licensed in the UK at the end of last year was nine years and 10 months. This is up from seven years and five months at the end of 2015. Petrol cars have the oldest average age by fuel type at 10 years and four months, following by diesels at 10 years and one month. The average plug-in hybrid was three years and four months old while battery electric cars were typically just two years and six months old. A total of nearly 34 million cars were licensed at the end of last year. Of these, about two in five (40.7%) were at least 10 years old, compared with 32.7% at the end of 2015. Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said: 'On the plus side, for motorists, the design and build-quality of modern cars means they are looking good and running reliably for far longer. 'The days of them rusting away before your eyes are well and truly behind us. 'Even a 20-year-old car with a full service history can be a good bet for someone seeking a bargain buy that still looks up to date. 'The bad news for the environment is that the overall ageing of the fleet means the replacement of fossil-fuelled cars by those with very low or zero emissions is not happening as quickly as policy-makers hoped. 'To hit the Climate Change Committee's 2030 emission reduction targets without a cut in the number of miles driven, we believe that by the end of the decade there will need to be a 10-fold increase in the 1.3 million or so battery electric cars on the road at the close of 2024. 'That is going to require a huge push.'
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The Independent
4 days ago
- Automotive
- The Independent
Environmental fears grow as average age of UK cars reaches record high
The average age of cars on UK roads has reached a record high of nearly 10 years, sparking environmental fears. Motoring research charity the RAC Foundation, which conducted the research, said drivers are benefiting from the improved 'build-quality' of modern cars, but this is 'bad news for the environment ' as it is slowing the switch to electric models. It found the average age of cars licensed in the UK at the end of last year was nine years and 10 months. This is up from seven years and five months at the end of 2015. Petrol cars have the oldest average age by fuel type at 10 years and four months, following by diesels at 10 years and one month. The average plug-in hybrid was three years and four months old while battery electric cars were typically just two years and six months old. A total of nearly 34 million cars were licensed at the end of last year. Of these, about two in five (40.7%) were at least 10 years old, compared with 32.7% at the end of 2015. Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said: 'On the plus side, for motorists, the design and build-quality of modern cars means they are looking good and running reliably for far longer. 'The days of them rusting away before your eyes are well and truly behind us. 'Even a 20-year-old car with a full service history can be a good bet for someone seeking a bargain buy that still looks up to date. 'The bad news for the environment is that the overall ageing of the fleet means the replacement of fossil-fuelled cars by those with very low or zero emissions is not happening as quickly as policy-makers hoped. 'To hit the Climate Change Committee 's 2030 emission reduction targets without a cut in the number of miles driven, we believe that by the end of the decade there will need to be a 10-fold increase in the 1.3 million or so battery electric cars on the road at the close of 2024. 'That is going to require a huge push.'
