A Department of Transportation survey maintains household vehicle turnover has slowed since 2009.
Results of the 2017 National Household Travel Survey (NHTS) revealed households held on to their cars, trucks, and vans longer, noting the average vehicle age has increased from 9.3 years in 2009 to 10.5 years in 2017.
Officials said the findings suggest many households have delayed the purchase of a new vehicle while continuing a trend of Americans choosing to operate vehicles longer.
The Environmental Protection Agency reported although vehicle turnover has slowed, fuel economy has continued to increase because of technological advances adopted across all vehicle types of new light-duty vehicles, with other factors being travel demand and characteristic data not incorporated in vehicle-age statistics, such as variations among household vehicle ownership and use.
The NHTS has been conducted by the Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration eight times since 1969, officials said. The 2009 survey was conducted before the federal Car Allowance Rebate System, which accelerated new vehicle purchases in July and August 2009, had started.
Survey administrators said an aging vehicle fleet suggests households have delayed purchasing a new vehicle or have instead bought a used one.
Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Expenditures Survey data reflects spending on vehicle repair and maintenance has also increased in recent years.