For years, changing your car every three or four years was considered fairly normal. Today, things are changing. More drivers are hanging on to their cars for longer, while others are actively looking for good-quality older vehicles rather than buying brand new.
And this isn’t just something we’ve noticed in the workshop.
According to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), the average car on UK roads is now 9.7 years old. Even more strikingly, 45.7% of cars are now more than 10 years old.
So, why are older cars becoming so popular, and if you have one you love, how can you keep it running reliably for many years to come?
Why Are We Keeping Our Cars for Longer?
There isn’t one single reason. Cost certainly plays a part, but there are several reasons why drivers are becoming increasingly attached to older cars.
New Cars Are Expensive
The most obvious factor is money.
Buying or financing a new car can mean committing to a significant monthly payment. If your existing car is paid for, reliable and does everything you need it to do, replacing it isn’t necessarily the best financial decision.
Even if an older car occasionally needs a repair, spending several hundred pounds maintaining a vehicle you already own can sometimes make considerably more sense than taking on years of finance payments.
Older Cars Can Be Refreshingly Simple
Modern cars have some fantastic technology, but they are also increasingly complicated.
Touchscreens, cameras, sensors, electronic handbrakes, driver assistance systems and increasingly complex electronics all have their advantages, but not everybody wants them.
Many drivers simply like getting into a car, turning the key and driving.
Older cars can still have air conditioning, electric windows, good safety equipment and plenty of comfort, without having quite so much technology between the driver and the road.
You Know Your Own Car
There’s also a lot to be said for knowing the history of the car sitting on your driveway.
If you’ve owned a vehicle for eight or ten years, regularly serviced it and know exactly what work has been carried out, you know what you’ve got.
Replacing it with another used vehicle means starting again with a car whose previous life may be less certain.
Sometimes the best used car you can buy is the one you already own.
Nostalgia Is Playing a Part Too
Cars from the 1990s and 2000s that were once simply regarded as everyday transport are increasingly becoming desirable.
People often want the cars they remember from their childhood, the car their parents owned, or perhaps the model they wanted when they were younger but couldn’t afford.
Everything from hot hatchbacks and sports cars to ordinary family saloons and estates can now attract enthusiastic owners determined to preserve them.
But you don’t have to own a classic or future classic to want to keep an older car on the road.
Can a Car Really Last 15, 20 or Even 25 Years?
Absolutely.
Mileage and age don’t automatically kill cars, neglect does.
A well-maintained high-mileage vehicle can sometimes be in significantly better mechanical condition than a younger, low-mileage car that has been poorly maintained.
The key is preventative maintenance. Don’t simply wait for something to break.
Service It Regularly
This is probably the single most important thing you can do.
Engine oil deteriorates and becomes contaminated over time. Filters become clogged and components wear.
Regular servicing gives your garage an opportunity to spot developing problems before they become major repairs.
If you’re planning to keep a car for the long term, servicing shouldn’t be viewed as an expense to avoid. Think of it as an investment in extending the life of the vehicle.
Don’t Ignore Cambelts and Other Scheduled Maintenance
Some components have specific replacement intervals based on age, mileage or both.
Cambelts are an obvious example. Failure can cause catastrophic engine damage on many engines, turning a routine maintenance job into a very expensive repair.
The same principle applies to other fluids and serviceable components.
Knowing your manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedule becomes particularly important as a car gets older.
Keep an Eye on Corrosion
Rust can be one of the biggest enemies of an ageing car.
Pay particular attention to the underside, sills, suspension mounting areas, wheel arches and other places exposed to water, salt and road dirt.
Small areas of corrosion are usually much easier and cheaper to deal with than serious structural rust that has been allowed to develop for years.
Rubber Doesn’t Last Forever
Age affects components even when a car hasn’t covered particularly high mileage.
Rubber hoses, seals, suspension bushes, engine mounts, belts and other components can harden, crack or perish over time.
This is why a low-mileage older car isn’t automatically maintenance-free.
Having the vehicle inspected regularly can identify age-related deterioration before it leaves you stranded.
Look After the Cooling System
Overheating can quickly turn a relatively minor fault into serious engine damage.
Coolant hoses, radiators, thermostats, water pumps and expansion tanks all become more important as vehicles age.
If you notice coolant disappearing, the temperature gauge behaving differently or signs of a leak underneath the car, don’t simply keep topping it up.
Find out where the coolant is going.
Don’t Neglect Brakes and Suspension
Brake discs, pads, callipers, springs, shock absorbers, ball joints and bushes all wear over time.
Because deterioration can happen gradually, you may not notice how much your car’s handling or braking has changed.
Regular inspection helps keep an older vehicle safe and can restore the way it drives.
Check Your Tyres, Not Just the Tread
Cars that cover relatively few miles may still have plenty of tread while the tyres themselves are becoming old.
Look for cracking, damage, uneven wear and changes in the condition of the rubber.
Tyres are one of the most important safety components on any vehicle, regardless of its age.
Listen to What Your Car Is Telling You
One advantage of owning the same car for years is that you know what it normally sounds and feels like.
A new vibration, knock, squeal, warning light or change in the way the car drives is worth investigating.
Catching a worn bearing, leaking hose or failing suspension component early can prevent further damage and potentially save you money.
Remember, an MOT Isn’t a Service
An MOT determines whether a vehicle meets required safety and environmental standards at the time of the test. It isn’t a replacement for routine maintenance.
A car can pass an MOT and still have components that will require maintenance or replacement in the months ahead.
If you want to keep an older vehicle for years, combine your annual MOT with sensible servicing and preventative maintenance.
When Is an Older Car No Longer Worth Repairing?
This is where things become more subjective.
If a car requires £800 worth of repairs but is otherwise sound and could provide several more years of reliable motoring, spending the money may make perfect sense.
The important question isn’t simply: “Is the repair worth more than the car?”
Ask yourself what it would cost to replace the vehicle with something genuinely better and what that replacement would cost you every month.
There will eventually be cases where extensive corrosion, repeated major failures or safety concerns make replacing a car more sensible. A trustworthy garage should be prepared to tell you when you’ve reached that point.
Look After an Older Car and It Can Look After You
There’s nothing wrong with driving an older car.
In fact, with nearly half of Britain’s cars now more than 10 years old, keeping vehicles for longer is becoming completely normal.
Regular servicing, preventative maintenance and dealing with small problems before they become big ones can make an enormous difference to how long a vehicle lasts.
At The Garage Brentwood, we’ve been looking after cars for more than 40 years. We work on vehicles of all makes, models and ages, from everyday family cars to much-loved older vehicles and classics.
If you’ve got an older car and want to keep it on the road for many more years, bring it in and let us take a look.
The Garage Brentwood
Unit 6, Kings Eight Industrial Estate, off St James Road, Brentwood, CM14 4LF
01277 233421