Research has found that the average lifespan of a car in the UK is the longest it’s ever been. Read on to find out why cars are lasting longer before they get scrapped.
What's the average age of a scrapped car in the UK?
As of 2021, the average age of a scrapped car in the UK is approximately 16 years old! For comparison, in the year 2009, the average car was only 13 years old when it went to the scrap yard.
There are a number of reasons why cars are lasting so much longer than they used to. Let’s have a look at some of the biggest contributors.
According to an article published in 2021, new car sales decreased significantly during the coronavirus pandemic. This resulted in fewer people trading in their old cars for a newer model, and so the average age of cars on the road increased. This also meant fewer cars were being scrapped.
Even without the impact of the pandemic, the lifespan of a car has been steadily increasing for years. This is because cars are designed to be more durable than ever. There are also improved safety features, better quality parts and nifty electrical features that help us better care for our cars.
Gone are the days when a standard car would last around 8 years or 150,000 miles. Nowadays, you can expect a car to last you upwards of 200,000 miles – perhaps more depending on the make and model of the car and how well you take care of it. As a result, motorists are waiting a lot longer before scrapping their cars due to old age / high mileage.
Why do cars get scrapped?
The average lifespan of a car in the UK before it gets scrapped depends on a number of factors. Here are some of the most common:
Your car is written off
If your car is so badly damaged that the repair costs would exceed its total value, you can declare it a write-off and send it to the scrap yard. A car crash can happen to anyone, regardless of how new their vehicle is. Loads of new cars are written off every day. So, you’ll still see plenty of newer cars in scrap yards because of this.
Your car has lost its value
A car’s value will depreciate over time. If you’ve owned your car for a long time, chances are it’s worth a fraction of the price you paid for it. Alternatively, your car might not be that old, but if you bought a ‘trendy’ car that is no longer trendy, that might be another reason why it has lost its value. In this instance it would be much easier to scrap your car in exchange for money than to go through the process of selling it on.
You want to get rid of your car quickly
Selling your car can be time-consuming. Scrapping it takes almost no time at all! This can come in particularly handy if you need to get rid of your car very quickly. You can scrap your car anytime, regardless of how old it is.
Scrap your car with A&L
Here at A&L Vehicle Recycling, we can make sure your car scrapping experience runs as smoothly as possible. Scrap your car with us today in just 4 simple steps!
Step 1: Enter your registration and postcode.
Step 2: Receive a quote straight away.
Step 3: Review and accept our quote.
Step 4: Arrange collection and get paid!
Get in touch with us today for more information or click the button below to get an instant quote for your old car.
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