How older vehicles are reshaping the aftermarket

Vehicles are staying on the road longer than ever, and that trend is reshaping the automotive aftermarket. In the U.S., the average age of cars and light trucks hit a record 12.8 years at the start of 2025, according to Lang Marketing. Canada’s car parc is a bit younger, with an average age of about 10.5 years.

The rising age of vehicles is driven by several factors: Slower new vehicle sales, improved durability and changing consumer habits. Advanced materials and better manufacturing have extended vehicle lifespans, while high prices and limited supply in recent years have kept many drivers in their current vehicles longer.

Since 2020, new vehicle sales have struggled to match the record highs seen between 2015 and 2019, shifting more annual mileage to older cars and light trucks.

The aging trend is not uniform. Passenger cars, especially domestic nameplates, are significantly older on average than light trucks, which have dominated new vehicle sales for decades. Domestic brands also tend to be older than foreign nameplates, which have captured a larger share of recent sales. In the U.S., domestic vehicles average about three years older than foreign models, and they make up a bigger share of vehicles more than 15 years old.

This shift has major implications for the aftermarket. Older vehicles require more maintenance and repairs, increasing demand for replacement parts. It also changes what consumers buy and where they go for service. Owners of older vehicles are often more price-sensitive, boosting demand for “value” brands that offer lower-cost alternatives to original equipment (OE) parts. These brands are gaining share in both do-it-yourself and do-it-for-me markets, particularly among domestic cars.

Independent repair shops are also benefiting. Consumers with older vehicles are more likely to choose non-dealer outlets, which typically offer lower labour rates and a wider range of parts. In response, some dealers are adjusting strategies by servicing all makes and offering competitive pricing for older vehicles.

Lang Marketing said it expects the average age of vehicles to keep climbing over the next several years, further increasing the number of cars and trucks more than 15 years old. That will continue to drive aftermarket growth, even if new vehicle sales remain sluggish.

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