How Many Miles Can a Car Last? (2024)

ByDoug Demuro02/21/2024 4:33pm05/14/2024 9:40am

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Quick Facts About a Car’s Longevity

A well-maintained car can last 200,000 miles or more.
About 12.5 years is the average age of a car on the road in the United States today.
How well a car is maintained and driven is a significant component in determining a car’s life expectancy.

Whether you are in the market for a new or used car or currently own a car with 70,000, 80,000, or more miles on the odometer, you’ve probably entertained the question: How many miles can a car last? Honestly, each car is different, as is its history (or future in the case of a new car). The issue isn’t just how well-made a car is but also how its owner or owners treat it. In other words, it’s the car’s quality of life. Read on to learn what to expect when considering how long cars last.

How Long Will a Car Last?

Typically, a car will last from 200,000 to 300,000 miles. Or, in terms of time, from 15 to 22 years. If those numbers raised your eyebrows, let us add that multiple variables impact a car’s life expectancy. An electric vehicle (EV) will last at least as long as a car with an internal combustion engine (ICE). Electric cars don’t have many of the mechanical components that ICE vehicles do, so EVs could last longer.

Average Age of Cars on the Road

According to the United States Department of Transportation (DOT), the average age of the vehicles (cars, SUVs, and trucks) on the road today is roughly 12.5 years. Of course, this means some cars are much older while others are, well, new. Also, from the DOT’s Federal Highway Administration, the average number of miles per year driven was about 13,500 in its most recent study. Doing a bit of math reveals the average vehicle on the road has nearly 169,000 miles on the odometer. So, a car lasting 200,000 miles doesn’t seem farfetched.

However, in general, people don’t usually keep their cars forever. Although the average car on the road is more than a dozen years old, the average time drivers keep a new vehicle is 71.4 months or around six years. So, even if you plan to own a car forever, the statistics are against you. You might get in an accident, start having expensive issues, or decide to upgrade to a newer model.

What Affects Car Age?

In some cases, the length of time you’ll be able to own a car depends on the car itself. Certain models are built better than other cars, which allows them to last longer. But notoriously well-built car models may have fatal flaws that develop later in life, such as a pricey engine or transmission issue, making them expensive to own long-term. When buying a new car, knowing exactly how long it will last is impossible.

Similarly, the driver/owner of the vehicle plays a huge role in the car’s longevity. It’s that pesky human element. It isn’t luck that some 1940s and 1950s classic cars are still on the road. Many such vehicles were owned by drivers who babied them for years, performing by-the-book oil changes, fixing mechanical issues, and routinely servicing them at recommended intervals. The result: These cars drive for 60, 70, or 80 years after rolling out of the showroom.

So, how long can you expect a car to last? We break down the factors that impact a car’s longevity and utility. Read on.

Factors That Impact the Longevity of a Car

Improved technology: In a perfect world, the more recent a car’s vintage (model year), the more longevity you should be able to expect. Why? Because carmaker engineers are constantly improving vehicle technology. For example, digital/electronic systems replace hydraulic/mechanical systems in modern vehicles. Electronic power steering, by-wire shifting, and so forth not only reduce the number of components in a system but also reduce wear and tear. Consequently, vehicles last longer.
Scheduled maintenance: Ignoring a car’s scheduled maintenance specified in its owner’s manual is a sure way to trim miles and years from its life.
Don’t ignore your car warning lights: Heed the warning lights when you see them illuminate. If you need to check your engine, get it checked.
Driver behavior: Aggressive driving causes more wear and tear on a vehicle’s engine, transmission, brakes, drivetrain, and other components than more restrained behavior. “Drive it like you stole it” isn’t a sensible plan for extending a car’s life expectancy.
Exceeding weight limits: All passenger vehicles, from 2-seat roadsters to full-size pickup trucks, have factory-issued weight ratings. One of these ratings is “payload.” A payload rating is the combined weight of the people and cargo a vehicle can safely carry. Repeated payloads above the factory’s recommended limits can harm the powertrain, drivetrain, suspension, and other components. Likewise, exceeding towing weight limits can impact a vehicle’s longevity.

The Bottom Line

Following the recommended maintenance schedule, obeying the weight restrictions, and keeping your driving behavior in check contribute to extending a car’s life expectancy – maybe even to that 200,000 to 300,000 target.