Considerable increase car ownership among over-65s

In the period 2000-2009, the number of car owners over the age of 65 has risen considerably. Among over-80s, car ownership even doubled.

More than 1 million cars in the older population

On 1 January last year, 1.1 million private cars were owned by over-65s, an increase by nearly 46 percent relative to 2000.

Car ownership grew most dramatically among people in  the age category 80 years and older. In the period 2000-2009, the amount of cars in this age group nearly doubled to 162.5 thousand. Apart from that, the number of over-90 car owners is growing steadily; 7 thousand early last year, i.e. nearly 2.5 times as many as at the beginning of the 21st century.

Car ownership by age

Older people cover shorter distance annually

Younger over-65s cover more kilometres annually than their older counterparts. People beyond the age of 80 averaged more than 5.2 thousand kilometres, whereas those in the age category 65–70 nearly covered twice that distance annually. This is still way below the average in the 18 to 65-year-old population of 12.9 thousand kilometres in 2008.

Average annual distance privately-owned cars by age category owner

Older people’s cars are on average older and lighter

Cars of older over-65s are older and lighter than those owned by younger over-65s. Early 2009, the average car of 65 to 70-year-olds was just under 9 years old, while people over the age of 90 on average had cars nearly 13 years old. Cars of older over-65s were also on average 155 kilos lighter than those owned by 65 to 70-year-olds.

Average weight and age of cars by age category owner, 1 January 2009

Astrid Dohmen-Kampert