How Long Should You Keep Your Car? Why a 10-Year Plan Might Cost You More
I can’t tell you how many families sit down with me in my one-on-one car consultations and proudly tell me, “We want to buy a car we can keep for the next 10 years.” And every time, I smile because I get where they’re coming from. It feels responsible. It feels like you’re making a smart, long-term choice.
But here’s the reality: when you have a growing family, keeping your car for a decade might not be realistic or the best financial move.
If you’re new here, hi, I’m Kelly, The Car Mom. I’m a mom of four, a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST), and I review cars with real families in mind.
Today I’m going to break down why “the 10-year car plan” doesn’t always serve families well, what you should consider instead, and how buying pre-owned with intention can set you up for way more flexibility.
Family Needs Change Faster Than You Think
My career is built on helping families find the right car, and the reason this topic is so important is because families change quickly—and so do their car needs.
For example, two kids can fit in almost any vehicle, but add a third and suddenly the car you’ve relied on for years no longer works. I’ve been there! I had four kids in five and a half years, and there’s no way I would’ve bought an Expedition Max when I only had two. It would’ve been way too much car at the time. But as my family quickly grew, it became one of the few vehicles that actually worked for us.
So here’s the first thing I want you to consider: why is your goal to keep a car for the next 10 years? For most people, that goal is financially driven. And that’s exactly the conversation I want to have with you today.
What’s really behind your 10-year plan, and is it the best move for your family?
The “10-Year Car” Is a Myth for Most Families
For some reason, keeping a car for 10 years has become a badge of honor. I hear parents say it almost like a brag: “We’ll buy this car and keep it for 10 years.” But if we look at the data, people actually switch out their cars every three to four years.
So instead of setting yourself up with unrealistic expectations, just be honest about your track record. How often have you swapped cars in the past? Probably more often than you’d like to admit.
And that’s okay! Life changes, families grow, and cars should evolve with you.
The Smarter Move: Buy Pre-Owned With Intention
Instead of stretching your budget to buy something new and planning to keep it for 10 years, I want you to think differently: buy pre-owned, and plan for the next three to four years of your life.
Why? Because pre-owned cars don’t take the same immediate depreciation hit that new cars do. I don’t think people fully anticipate the cost of depreciation on a new car and how much that is going to impact their ability to trade out of their car if their needs change.
The second you drive a new car off the lot, it loses thousands of dollars in value. That’s fine if you truly plan on driving it into the ground, but most families don’t.
When you buy pre-owned intentionally, you’re giving yourself room to pivot. You can trade out for a bigger SUV when the next baby comes along, or downsize if your needs shift in the other direction.
Don’t Finance Your Car For More Than 5 Years.
One of the biggest mistakes I see families make is stretching their car loan to get the lowest possible monthly payment. I get it—on paper, that lower number feels more manageable. But here’s the problem: if you’re financing your car for more than 60 months (five years), you’re locking yourself into a loan that will outlast how long you actually want to keep the car.
Most families end up wanting or needing a different vehicle three to four years down the road. If your loan is still upside down at that point—meaning you owe more than the car is worth, it becomes really difficult to trade it in or upgrade.
That’s why I encourage families to think about the total life of the loan instead of just the monthly payment.
It’s almost always better to buy a pre-owned car with a shorter loan term you can comfortably afford. That way, if your family grows or your lifestyle changes, you’ll have the freedom to make a switch without being trapped by debt.
If you’re looking for great family cars on a budget, here are two posts that may help:
Think in Terms of Miles, Not Just Years
Instead of asking, “How many years can I keep this car?” start asking, “How many miles do I need this car to cover?”
This mindset shift is huge. If you know you’ll only need the car for three years, then mileage flexibility opens up your options.
You don’t have to buy the lowest-mileage car you can find!
You can buy a well-maintained car with higher miles, save money upfront, and still get everything you need out of it before it’s time to trade up.
Used Cars Have Proven Reliability.
Another misconception I hear all the time is that new cars are more reliable than used ones. That’s simply not true.
If a car has made it to 100,000 miles and performed well, chances are it’s going to keep performing. Manufacturers design modern cars to last well over 200,000 miles. That’s why their maintenance schedules go that high.
In fact, you could argue that pre-owned cars are more reliable because they have a history. You can see how they’ve been maintained and how they’ve performed, rather than just trusting that a brand-new car will hold up.
So don’t be afraid of higher mileage, especially if you only need the car for three to four years.
For example, if you buy a car at 80,000 miles and you only drive 12,000 miles a year, you’ll be well within its safe and reliable lifespan before you’re ready to move on.
When Does a 10-Year Car Make Sense?
If budget isn’t a concern and you want to buy a brand-new car and keep it for 10 years, go for it. There’s nothing wrong with that if it works for your family.
But for most families with young kids, it doesn’t always make sense. Kids grow. Needs change. Budgets shift. And your car should support your lifestyle, not hold you back because you’re trying to stick to an arbitrary timeline.
You don’t have to get a new car every three or four years, but I want you to have the option to! The goal is to make sure you’re in a car that fits your season of life, not stuck in one that doesn’t.
My Takeaway for Families
At the end of the day, here’s what I want you to know:
Your family’s car needs will change sooner than you think.
Buying pre-owned doesn’t mean settling; it means being strategic.
New cars depreciate fast, and that can trap you if your family outgrows the car.
Used cars are safe, reliable, and often the smarter buy.
Think in terms of mileage and life stage, not decades.
Instead of trying to find “the perfect car for 10 years,” focus on finding the right car for the next three to four years. Buy with intention, give yourself flexibility, and know that switching cars as your family grows is not just okay, it’s smart!
I’d love to hear your thoughts! Do you keep cars long-term or switch them out as life changes? Let me know in the comments, and don’t forget to check out my other blogs for more tips on family cars, car seats, and smart car buying: