British drivers are holding onto their cars for longer than ever, and new research has put some striking numbers on just how far those vehicles have travelled.
A Freedom of Information request submitted by online marketplace eBay has revealed that 4,363,123 cars registered in the UK have between 100,000 and 150,000 miles on the odometer. That figure alone represents more than one in ten of the roughly 42.5 million cars on UK roads, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
But that’s just part of the picture. When you extend the count to include all cars that have cracked the 100,000-mile mark, the total rises to over six million vehicles registered with the DVSA — including roughly 2,700 that have clocked up more than half a million miles. That is a seriously well-used fleet.
Why Are Cars Lasting So Long?
Modern vehicles are simply built better than they used to be. Improved engineering, better materials, and more sophisticated engine management systems mean a well-maintained car can keep going well beyond what previous generations would have expected. When you combine that with the rising cost of living making new car purchases harder to justify, it’s no surprise that people are keeping their current cars on the road for as long as possible.
The average age of a car on UK roads now sits at around 10 years, and almost half of all cars in the country are more than a decade old. The economic pressure to avoid a new finance deal or a large outright purchase is clearly keeping older vehicles in circulation.
The Problem With Selling High-Mileage Cars
Here’s where it gets interesting for the used car market. Despite the fact that millions of these high-mileage cars are clearly still running and being used every day, nearly three-quarters of buyers won’t touch them. eBay surveyed 2,000 people as part of the research, and 72% said they would not consider buying a car with more than 100,000 miles on it.
That’s a significant disconnect. Cars with over 100,000 miles can represent genuinely good value if they’ve been properly maintained — particularly modern engines that are well designed to go the distance. But buyer perception hasn’t kept pace with reality, and that’s creating a huge pool of vehicles that could be very difficult to sell.
What This Means for Private Hire and Taxi Drivers
For those of us who put serious mileage on our vehicles for work, this data resonates. Professional drivers often run vehicles well into six figures on the clock, and the reliability of modern cars — especially when serviced regularly — makes that entirely manageable.
It also raises a question about value in the used market. If most private buyers are skipping over high-mileage stock, there could be genuine bargains available for fleet-minded buyers who understand that miles alone don’t tell the whole story. A 120,000-mile car with a full service history and reliable provenance can be a far better purchase than a 60,000-mile car that’s been neglected.
As the UK’s car parc ages and more vehicles cross that psychological 100,000-mile barrier, expect this conversation to become increasingly relevant to anyone buying, selling, or running vehicles for work.
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