UK HANGS ON TO OLD CARS

Average car age climbs as high prices dampen demand for new models

- JOHN EVANS

U K motorists are shunning showrooms in favour of holding onto their ageing cars, to both the detriment of new car dealers and the benefit of warranty companies and independent garages.

Despite total new car sales increasing 6% for the year to date, those to private buyers are down 11.8%, figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders show.

Meanwhile, of the 34 million cars on the roads, 16 million - almost one in two are more than a decade old. Among these cars, 10.5 million are aged over 12 years.

According to Philip Nothard, insight director at Cox Automotive, a key factor is the rising price of new cars, up 129% over the past 15 years from an average of £22,868 to £52,342.

"This is almost 50% above inflation across the same period," he said. "The average diesel car is now 149% more expensive than its 2009 equivalent and the average petrol 93% more.