What is the average age of light vehicles on U.S. roads?
Answer12.8 years
It rose by two months for the second year in a row, reaching a record high.
Source: S&P Global Mobility (2025) press.spglobal.com
Autos · Facts & sources
Mechanic facts & stats
5 sourced facts about auto mechanics, each with the context behind the number. 4 more are in today's round and appear here after it closes.
The basics
About how many light vehicles are in operation in the U.S.?
Answer289 million
Only about 4.5% of the fleet is scrapped each year, so most vehicles stay on the road for many years.
Source: S&P Global Mobility (2025) press.spglobal.com
Going deeper
How much is U.S. employment of auto technicians and mechanics projected to grow from 2025 to 2035?
Answer5% (faster than average)
Meanwhile the U.S. fleet has grown to about 289 million vehicles with a record average age of 12.8 years.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025) bls.gov
Expert level
How many job openings for auto technicians and mechanics are projected in the U.S. each year?
Answerabout 66,200 per year
That is a large number of openings relative to about 825,800 total jobs in the occupation.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025) bls.gov
What is the average age of passenger cars (not trucks or SUVs) in the U.S.?
Answer14.5 years
Light trucks are younger on average, at 11.9 years.
Source: S&P Global Mobility (2025) press.spglobal.com
Think you'd have guessed them?Today's round is four stats like these plus one opinion poll. Your streak and level follow you to every site.Play today's round