More than a quarter of Police Scotland vehicles are between five to 10 years old with one as old as 20, according to new statistics.
Figures obtained through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request show the nation-wide force has 174 (seven per cent) cars that are more than 10 years old.
Statistics also revealed that 699 (28 per cent) vehicles in Police Scotland's livery are between five and 10 years old.
Alistair Carmichael, the Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman, hit out saying vehicles were "not the place to cut corners".
Earlier this year the Scottish Government announced there would be a slight rise in public spending for the justice system over the next four financial years.
However, if the current rate of inflation carries on then it would represent a real-terms cut to spending in the sector from 2023 to 2027.
Carmichael added: "Of course the police need to maximise their resources, but their fleets are not the place to cut corners. To ensure crucial parts of their jobs, like high-speed chases, are safe, the police should be using modern, fit-for-purpose vehicles, not cars older than the people driving them.
"Our police forces do a fantastic job 24/7, especially around the festive season, keeping our communities and families safe.
"But this Conservative Government has run their budgets into the ground, squeezing them on from every angle and making it harder to do their jobs effectively.
"Police must have their budgets restored and the Government must ensure each force has access to equipment that is state of the art and can function exactly as required in an emergency."
Under the provisional settlement, the Home Office said forces will receive an additional £287 million in cash terms from central government in 2023-24.
In a written joint submission to Holyrood's Criminal Justice Committee earlier this year Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority said serving the public would remain the priority for the force.
It read: "Providing citizens with the help they need and deserve will be ever more important as the cost of living crisis drives vulnerability and need in communities.
"Equally, as financial challenges place public services under pressure, community needs can manifest in criticality and displace upon policing, which is so often the service of first and last resort.
"As has been consistently demonstrated, responsive, effective, operationally competent policing is a pre-requisite for safety and security; for social cohesion; and for a vibrant and sustainable country.
"Should funding allocations follow the parameters of the Resource Spending Review, this would mean a fundamental reduction in Scottish policing’s capacity and capability to respond to the needs of the public we serve."
The FOI asked 28 police forces in England, Wales and Scotland the age of their fleet with West Yorkshire revealing they own a 36-year-old car.
In a sign of regional variations, 14 per cent of Avon and Somerset's fleet is at least a decade old, while just 1 per cent of Surrey's cars are 10 years old.
Carmichael added: "People would be shocked to learn that the police still own a vehicle from 1986. When the car was first registered, Lionel Messi hadn't been born, the Pet Shop Boys were topping the charts, and Google was still a decade away from invention. How can a car past its prime be reliable in an emergency?"
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: "Allocation of resources within Police Scotland is a matter for the Chief Constable.
"Recognising the crucial role Police Scotland officers and staff play in keeping our communities safe, the service is receiving substantial additional resource funding of £80 million in the next financial year, a 6.3% increase. Meanwhile, Police capital funding has been maintained at £45.5 million for investment in assets including buildings, vehicles and technology.
"This brings the policing budget to £1.45 billion for 2023-24. Policing is a priority for the Scottish Government. We have more officers per head of population than in England and Wales and new constables start here on salaries significantly higher too."
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