South Africa’s cars are getting older

There are differing opinions on what the actual average age of cars on South Africa’s roads is, but the consensus in the industry is that the average age is increasing.

This difference in opinion makes it hard to pinpoint exactly how old South Africa’s cars are, although the data suggests it is at least more than ten years.

A study by Lightstone showed that by 2022, this was already the case, and that the average age of cars would continue to increase.

Its data also showed an increase in older vehicle purchases, with more and more South Africans financing older models.

By mid-2023, the SABC reported that nearly half of the cars on local roads are between ten and twenty years old, owing to affordability issues and widespread economic struggles due to the high cost of living.

TransUnion released its own findings last year, which confirm the belief that South Africa’s car population is ageing.

The global credit reporter noted that previously, motorists were keeping their cars for an average of five years, but now consumers are keeping cars for between six and eight years before selling.

All of these findings, coupled with AutoTrader’s latest pre-owned sales data, all point towards a general need to keep cars for longer.

More and more used cars are leaving dealership floors, and last year, as 30,742 units were sold in December 2025 alone, marking a year-on-year increase of 16.34%.

That being said, new car sales also recorded massive sales growth in 2025 as 48,983 units were sold during the last month of last year, signifying a 19.2% year-on-year increase compared to December 2024.

Market researchers at Mordor Intelligence are forecasting the South African used segment to continue to grow, putting more old cars on the road, although more likely in the three-to-five year age range.

“The South African used car market is expected to grow from 12.89 billion US dollars (R205 billion) in 2025 to 13.75 billion US dollars (R220 billion) in 2026,” Mordor Intelligence reported.

“This steady expansion reflects consumers’ pivot toward pre-owned vehicles as inflation erodes new-car affordability, digital commerce platforms simplify transactions, and organised dealers professionalise operations.”

The turning tide

While historically, South Africa’s car park has gotten older, the resurgence and renewed faith in the local economy may lead to the average age of cars on our roads decreasing soon, if new cars continue to outsell used.

Last month, new car sales carried positive growth into the new year, signalling this may already be the case.

According to Naamsa, January’s new car sales represented another year-on-year improvement of 7.5% compared to the same month last year, with more than 50,000 units sold once again.

It is impossible not to note the annual improvement in new car sales. When looking over the last three years, new car sales in January have improved significantly.

In January 2024, new vehicle sales numbers stood at 42,023. By January 2025, sales had risen to 46,398, and in January 2026, sales strengthened to 50,073 units.

According to WesBank, this confirms that sales volumes above the 50,000-unit mark are becoming increasingly typical rather than exceptional.

“Looking at successive January numbers tells the story better than any single month,” says Lebo Gaoaketse, Head of Marketing and Communication at WesBank.

“January 2024 was defined by restraint, January 2025 by recovery and January 2026 by consolidation. What we’re seeing now is a market that has stabilised, not overheated.”

Gaoaketse said the health of the new vehicle market reflects continued consumer affordability, as inflation remains within the Reserve Bank’s target range.

Mordor Intelligence is predicting that factors like declining new-car affordability and high depreciation would instead drive older, pre-owned vehicle sales.

It also noted that the growing availability of used vehicle financing would encourage more buyers to shop in the used segment, while the popularity of online used-car platforms may also drive up sales.

Who ends up being right remains to be seen as South Africa’s policymakers sit with our government’s automotive policy review, which addresses tariff structures and localisation incentives.

“The market has positioned itself well for 2026, but important decisions lie ahead,” explained Gaoaketse.

“Tariff decisions often have significant ripple effects. Ensuring the continued growth of the sector means balancing the needs of the consumer and the industry.”