Average Pickup-Truck Age in US Increased 20% over 7 Years

Record-high 11.3-year average age of light-duty trucks creates new challenges and opportunities for aftermarket parts and accessories

08202013 Light Truck Age

The average age of light-duty pickup trucks on U.S. roads increased nearly 20 percent, to a record of 11.3 years, since 2006.

Polk, the global automotive market intelligence firm recently acquired by IHS, bases its vehicle-fleet-age analysis on review of over 247 million U.S. car and light truck registrations this year.

The average age of all light vehicles on the road now stands at a record high of 11.4 years. Passenger-car average age also met a record high at 11.4 years, and Polk expects this trend to continue.

The volume of 6- to 11-year-old vehicles is declining, while the group of vehicles older than 12 years is on the rise.

"These are interesting times for the automotive aftermarket," said Mark Seng, vice president of Polk’s aftermarket practice. "Customers from independent and chain repair shops should be paying close attention to their business plans and making concerted efforts to retain business among the do-it-for-me (DIFM) audience, while retailers have a unique and growing opportunity with potential consumers wrenching on their own vehicles."

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