U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Vehicle Technologies Program

Fact #329: July 19, 2004
How Long Do People Plan to Keep Their Vehicles?

The majority of respondents to a nationwide survey indicated that they plan to keep a newly purchased vehicle for at least 100,000 miles before selling it. Twenty percent indicated that they would sell the vehicle when it has over 150,000 miles on it. Only 7% of the survey respondents said they would sell the vehicle before it has 50,000 miles on it.

Length of Time a Vehicle will Be Kept Before Being Sold
Graph showing length of time a vehicle will be kept before being sold.

Supporting Information

When you purchase a new vehicle, do you expect to sell it….
Before it has 50,000 miles 7%
When it has between 50,000 and 75,000 miles 13%
When it has between 75,000 and 100,000 miles 23%
When it has between 100,000 and 150,000 miles 22%
When it has over 150,000 miles 20%
Never will sell 15%
Total 100%

Source: Nationwide random phone survey conducted by Opinion Research Corporation for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, May 20–23, 2004 (N = 1036).

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