- Record number of vehicles on the road at more than 40 million
- EV and ULEV’s increase year-on-year
- Average age of cars on the road older than ever before at 8.8
years
Commenting on the vehicle licensing statistics released today*,
Jack Cousens, head of roads policy for the AA, said; “The record
number of cars on UK roads shows that our love affair with them
hasn’t dwindled. However, they are getting older as pressure on
personal finances and lack of supply due to component shortages
force owners to hang onto their current cars for longer.
“What has changed however is the type of cars we buy, with
electric and other low emission vehicles growing year-on-year
whilst diesel sales tank. As we head towards the 2030 ban on new
combustion car sales, this trend will continue, but how fast
depends on various issues.
“With the average age of cars on the road getting older to almost
nine years old, it is clear that both the pandemic and cost of
living crisis are biting as people cannot afford to switch, but
need the flexibility car ownership brings.
“In order to boost the uptake of EV’s and help the UK’s valuable
automotive industry, the government should consider scraping the
VAT on the sale of new electric cars and reducing VAT for
on-street charging. This would help convince drivers in a
position to switch now that electrification is the road to
travel, while offering drivers in years to come more
opportunities to join the electric revolution.”
ends
NOTES TO EDITORS
* https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/vehicle-licensing-statistics-2021/vehicle-licensing-statistics-2021
