A growing problem that has been observed in our country is the high age of the vehicle fleet. Although new car sales increased in 2024, there is still no complete renewal and the condition of many of the vehicles is worrying. To give you an idea, the average car in Spain is more than 14 years old and has 166,000 kilometers, being even more in some regions. It is clear that many examples with these characteristics are in perfect condition for circulation, but it is an average and that indicates that there are worse cases.
These figures come from a Carfax study, which analyzed the reality of the country in 2024. They calculated that there are some 25.6 million cars in circulation by Spain and a good number of conclusions were drawn. The most obvious is that it is an aging park with a fairly high average mileage. If analyzed by communities, those with the worst stops are Galicia, Extremadura and Castilla-La Macha; whose vehicles exceed 183,000 kilometers on average. The counterpoint is provided by the Balearic Islands (139,000 kilometers) and Catalonia (145,000 kilometers).
Only 13% of cars in Spain is less than three years oldhence the high age of the park. There are places that lower the average, since in Madrid it is 9 years and in Catalonia it is 11 years, but sales in the used market are still much more numerous than those of new vehicles. Furthermore, in the study they have also done emphasis on associated risks to cars. Apparently, 18% of all vehicles in circulation could have some type of risk that would compromise their safety.
By this they mean that they have previous damages and accidentsinconsistencies in mileage, dubious imports or previous use as a rental car. Are 4.6 million vehicles in this situation and Andalusia is the community that accumulates the largest number with 800,000 units. However, the communities with the highest percentage of risk are the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands, with 30% and 29% respectively, and their average age is 12 years.
The second-hand market is booming for obvious reasons and more than half of the cars in circulation have had two or more owners. Imports They represent 6% of the market and are worrying about having a higher average age, with 55% over 15 years old and 195,000 kilometers on average. On the other hand, rental cars They are also 6% of the vehicle fleet and regulate the market as they are 7 years old and have 124,000 kilometers on average. The electric ones, with around 200,000 units, are still few to be taken into account.
