FROM Glassbytes.com
May 29, 2025 by Abby Bowman
abowman@glass.com

Auto glass shop owners and technicians who have noticed more old or used vehicles seeking their services aren’t imagining things. According to recent data, United States vehicles are an average of 12.8 years old.

Automotive intelligence provider S&P Global Mobility published its latest research about the average age of vehicles in the United States on May 21, 2025. S&P says 2025 is the second consecutive year the U.S. average vehicle age has increased. This likely means good news for auto glass shops and other automotive repair companies.

“As vehicles reach the six-to-14-year window, they require more frequent maintenance, repairs, and parts replacements,” the study says. “With the 2015-2019 model years now entering this prime age range, a wave of service demand is expected to hit repair shops, part suppliers and service providers across the country.”

The average age differs slightly based on geographical region. According to S&P, states in the Northern Plains, Northwest, and Gulf Coast have a much higher average age, no more so than in Montana, with an average of 64 years.

Average age also varies by vehicle type. Passenger cars currently average 14.5 years in service while trucks average 11.9 years. S&P reports that battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales have slowed, meaning the average age of BEVs has slightly increased for the first time in several years. At 3.7 years, it is still small compared to the national average. Hybrid vehicle sales are growing, so plug-in hybrids’ average age has remained flat over recent years at 4.9 years. Traditional hybrids’ average age declined from 6.9 to 6.4 between 2024 and 2025.

The number of vehicles in the U.S. is also fluctuating. The nation’s fleet is 289 million light vehicles, 3 million more than in 2024. However, passenger vehicle numbers have “dropped below 100 million for the first time since the early 1970s,” S&P says.

According to the research, the average age of U.S. vehicles is connected to current economic issues such as inflation and supply chain disruptions. It also reflects “consumer preferences, regional nuances and technological transitions.”

This article is from glassBYTEs™, the free e-newsletter that covers the latest auto glass industry news. Click HERE to sign up—there is no charge. Interested in a deeper dive? Free subscriptions to Auto Glass Repair and Replacement (AGRR) magazine in print or digital format are available. Subscribe at no charge HERE.