UK Drivers Are Keeping Their Cars for 10 Years – And That’s a Good Thing!

The average car on British roads is now nearly a decade old – and that’s not bad news. With soaring new car prices, complex tech and finance fatigue, many drivers are saying: “No thanks!” to new motors

Remember when cars were affordable, simple and didn’t require a degree in Rocket Science just to adjust the wing mirrors? You don’t have to, because those cars are still around it seems, as a growing number of UK are hanging onto their cars longer than ever. According to the latest stats, the average age of cars on British roads is now nearly 10 years old (9 years and 10 months to be exact). That’s the oldest ever recorded.

Now some commentators – especially those flogging EVs and finance deals – are wringing their hands, warning it’s “bad for the environment” and “slowing the transition.” But hold on a minute. Is it really? Or could it be quite the opposite? Let’s take a closer look.

Why Are We Keeping Our Cars Longer?

Because new cars are too damn expensive for a start! The average price of a new car in the UK is now over £52,000. Ten years ago, it was about £25K. For example a car I’m currently testing, a top-spec electric SUV like the Polestar 4, weighs in at a hefty £71,500 fully loaded. That’s not a car loan – that’s a mortgage!

And unless you won the lottery last weekend, most people aren’t buying cars outright. It’s finance, PCP, or lease – locking drivers into contracts with monthly payments bigger than their rent. Not to mention the scandal of overcharged commissions! With the cost-of-living crisis biting and economic uncertainty everywhere, it’s no surprise people are holding onto what they already own, rather than committing to yet more costly monthly outlays they can ill afford.

Old Cars Are Simpler, More Honest, More Fun

Modern cars are stuffed with tech. Screens everywhere. Voice controls. Lane-keeping. Auto-everything. They’re smart, they’re out-thinking you, second-guessing their drivers. But guess what? Not everyone wants to feel like they’re being driven around by ChatGPT.

Plenty of drivers are turning back to simpler, analogue cars – where you can feel the clutch bite, smell the engine oil, and actually enjoy the drive. And if you’re handy with a spanner, you can even fix things yourself. Try doing that with a modern car that won’t reveal its ills until it interfaces with its creator’s computer software.

Depreciation is Real – and Brutal

And then there’s all that money to be lost. Lots and lots of money.

Buy a brand-new car and it’ll likely lose 40–60% of its value in the first three years. That’s a ton of readies to burn through for the sake of a glorified computer on 20-inch rims. Even given the fancy light show on start up. Meanwhile, running an older car into the ground – aka Bangernomics – is not just practical, it’s economical. It’s anti-waste. It’s logical.

Older Cars Might Be Greener Than You Think

Scrapping a car prematurely means chucking away embedded carbon – the emissions used to manufacture it in the first place. The longer you keep a car on the road, the more those emissions are “paid back”.

Sure, a brand-new EV doesn’t have tailpipe emissions – but the carbon cost of producing it is higher than a typical petrol car. So ditching a perfectly good car early to go electric? That might actually increase your overall environmental impact, not reduce it.

Is This the Future of Motoring?

Not everyone can, or wants to, keep upgrading every 2-3 years. And frankly, in this climate, that throwaway mindset is looking increasingly dated. More drivers are thinking long-term, buying smarter, and taking pride in keeping their cars going for a decade or more. The car industry might not like it – but the planet might actually thank you.

Final Thought

So if you’ve got an older motor and you’re wondering whether to trade it in for something new and “connected” – maybe don’t. Maybe keeping your current car ticking over is not only good for your wallet, but also a small act of sustainable rebellion.

And if you do need a change? There’s no shame in picking up a tidy, reliable used car – one with a little patina, a few war wounds, and a whole lot of spirit left in it.

Let me know – are you keeping your car longer? Do new models tempt you? Or have you had enough of £600-a-month PCP payments? Drop a comment below

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