Average Age of Cars On the Road & How to Make Your Car Last Longer

September 21, 2022

Just how long do cars last on average?

By Justin “Tito” Dellow – Auto Consultant

Auto House Scottsdale

Have you ever found yourself wondering which automobiles are the most reliable and cost effective to own long term? We will provide you with some info regarding the average age of cars on the road as well as a few tips on how to make your car last longer. One of the best recommendations out there is to do a bit of online research before you move forward with making any vehicle purchase.  If you are looking for a dependable vehicle that will last a long time, a good starting place might be to find out what is the average age of cars on the road. By doing so, you will more than likely be led to a list of vehicles that consumers find to be the most reliable. J.D Power and Associates and Consumer Reports are a couple of the most trusted sources to find out which vehicles stand out above them all. Resources such as these will also take total cost of ownership into consideration when ranking the most reliable, and affordable, vehicles to own. 

According to Kelly Blue Book, the average age of cars on the road  in the U.S. is about 12 years. Listed below are the top 20 best cars for longevity based off of consumer reports that have received the highest ratings over the last ten years. Drumroll please…

20. Nissan Leaf

19.  Toyota Venza

18.  Toyota Sequoia

17. Honda CRV

16.  Toyota Corolla

15. Acura TSX

14. Honda Accord

13. Lexus RX

12. Toyota Tundra

11. Toyota Highlander

10. Lexus CT 200h

9. Mazda 3

8. Toyota Avalon

7. Lexus GS

6. Lexus IS

5. Toyota RAV4

4. Lexus ES

3. Toyota Camry

2. Toyota Prius

1. Toyota 4Runner

Let’s say that you have chosen a vehicle off that list and driven it for a while now. You might be wondering  how to make your car last longer, especially given the car market’s volatility over the past few years. Well, simply  washing your vehicle on a regular basis is a good start! Soaps, waxes, polymers and coatings contained in vehicle cleaning products that auto supply stores sell and car washing services provide help keep your paint in pristine condition, which could save you thousands of dollars in the long run. Just like getting an annual checkup at your doctor’s office, having your vehicle serviced yearly (and in many cases, seasonally) will ensure longevity. Some of these standard maintenance practices include: 

  • Changing your oil every 3,000 – 6,000 miles 
  • Checking coolant levels every 1 – 2 months 
  • Making sure that all fluids are replenished or replaced per the manufacturer (OEM)
  • Rotating your tires every 5,000 – 8,000 miles and replacing them as needed
  • Ensuring all tires have the proper amount of air and tread depth at all times
  • Keeping your engine and cabin air filter clean and free of debris
  • Replacing the serpentine belt every 60,000 – 100,000 miles
  • Change your 12V battery/batteries every 3 – 5 years
  • Replace windshield wipers approximately every 12 months

To summarize, if you take care of your car, your car will take care of you! Auto House offers a large inventory of reliable vehicles along with complete service departments that will help keep your vehicle maintained at every turn.  Shop the Auto House inventory, let us know which vehicles you’re interested in, then test drive at home or at one of our showroom locations, and be in and out in about an hour!

Still undecided? See what others are saying about their experience buying a car with Auto House.

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