Registered vehicles, 2012

The average age has increased gradually from 2000, when it was 10.0 years. At the beginning of 2013, the average age of passenger cars was 10.5 years; the same as for the last 3 years.

For vans with a carrying capacity of less than 3.5 tonnes, the average age was 7.8 years at the end of 2012.

EU average is 8.3 years

In 2010, the average age of passenger cars in selected EU countries was 8.3 years. The oldest stock was registered in Estonia with an average age of 12.0 years, compared to 6.3 in Ireland.

The oldest cars in Oppland county

In 2000, the average age of passenger cars registered in Oppland county was 11.5 years. At the end of 2012, the average age was 12.6 years. The newest passenger cars were registered in Oslo, with an average age of 8.2 years.

The stock of vans is oldest in Oppland, with an average age of 10.1 years.

Almost 2.86 million passenger cars and light vans

A total of 2.86 million cars and vans were registered in Norway at the end of 2012. Of this, 2.4 million were private cars. This corresponded to 481 passenger cars per 1 000 inhabitants. The EU average was 486 (2010 figures). The density of passenger cars was highest in Hedmark county with 557 per 1 000 inhabitants.

Volkswagen on top

For many years Volkswagen has had most private cars in Norway, with Toyota in second place. At the end of 2012, Volkswagen’s share of the total stock of passenger cars constituted 14.0 per cent, compared with Toyota’s 12.6 per cent. For light vans, the share was 22 and 18.4 per cent respectively.

118 000 cars scrapped

In 2012, almost 118 000 passenger cars and vans were scrapped in exchange for a refund. The average age at the time of scrapping went down, and was 18.1 years for private cars and 15.0 years for vans.