The average age of cars on British roads has increased to 7.44 years, as drivers attempt to keep their motoring costs low by buying older vehicles.
The figure appeared in a report from British Car Auctions (BCA), who found that the average age of a car on UK roads has risen from 6.93 years in 2008.
As the recession continues, many motorists are finding themselves forced to consider older cars. The number of cars aged between 6 and 8 years rose by 7.4% last year and there are now more than 13 million cars on the road which are over 9 years old.
Tim Naylor, Editor of the BCA Used Car Market Report, believes that a number of factors are to blame for drivers buying older models: "A slowdown in the new car market from 2008 onwards has certainly had an impact on the availability of good quality used cars for motorists to buy.
"But crucially, company fleets have been holding onto their cars for longer and changing them less frequently and this has affected the supply of cars aged up to five years old. As a result motor dealers are buying older vehicles for their forecourts."
