Average miles driven per year by Americans

Even with available alternate forms of transportation, Americans are still reliant on their personal vehicles. The average U.S. citizen owns at least one car and has experienced a 12 percent increase in time spent driving between October 2018 to March 20191. With public transportation use trending down in recent years, Americans are driving — and they’re spending quite a bit of time on the road.

How Many Miles Do Americans Drive Per Year?

According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, each year, Americans collectively spend about 70 billion hours behind the wheel each year2. Those billions of hours translates to an average of 220 miles per week — and 11,498 miles per year.

That’s an astounding figure, but it may be a low estimate. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration states that the average American driver racks up about 13,500 miles per year3 (over 1,000 miles per month).

Of course, those miles aren’t shared equally. Factors that can influence driving behavior include:

Gender. Men spend about 19 percent more time driving than women.
Marital Status. Individuals who are married (or living with a partner) spend about 12 percent more time driving than those who are not.
Age. Drivers over the age of 75 only spend an average of 8 minutes per day in their car — that’s much lower than average, but it’s still a 23 percent increase from 2014.

Where You Live Also Affects Your Drivetime

Driving habits and time spent in the car varies regionally, which is one of the reasons that insurance companies consider zip codes when figuring premiums. Drivers in the Western U.S. spend the most time in their cars, followed by drivers in the Northwest and South. Midwestern drivers spend the least amount of time on the road on average.

The states where people rack up the most miles4:

1.Wyoming - 18,072 average miles driven per year
2.Alabama - 14,561 average miles driven per year
3.Mississippi - 13,663 average miles driven per year
4.New Mexico - 13,040 average miles driven per year
5.North Dakota - 13, 001 average miles driven per year

The states with the lowest number of miles per driver:

1.Hawaii - 7,664 average miles driven per year
2.Rhode Island - 7,567 average miles driven per year
3.Alaska - 7,464 average miles driven per year
4.New York - 6,324 average miles driven per year
5.Washington D.C. - 5,261 average miles driven per year

According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the country’s total vehicle miles traveled has increased steadily since 1971. The DOE estimates that Americans drove a record 3.23 trillion miles in 20195 — though the 2020 pandemic may have limited drivetime for many Americans.

How Your Driving Habits Affect Insurance Rates

The more time you spend behind the wheel, the higher your chances of an insurance claim. Even if you operate your vehicle safely, you can’t control the other drivers on the road. As mentioned earlier, insurance companies consider zip codes when setting premiums; they also consider factors like age, gender, and marital status (where legally allowed).

That’s important, because insurance is one of the most significant costs of car ownership. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the average vehicle costs $9,576 each year to own and operate6. In 2020, the average insurance cost for a medium sedan was $1,245, per the Insurance Information Institute7.

So, are you overpaying for your policy? Here are a few important factors to consider:

Many insurance companies offer low-mileage discounts. Insurers may offer special policies or discounts for vehicle owners who drive less than the national average (and while statistics vary, many insurers set the threshold around 7,500 miles per year). These companies may use telematics devices to track mileage. If you’re comfortable using one of these devices, you might be able to save.
However, frequent drivers should select policies that provide enough protection. It’s tempting to cut coverage to get lower premiums, but remember: More time on the road increases your chances of an accident. Comprehensive and collision coverages can provide crucial financial protection after an on-the-road incident.
A single claim can make insurance rates skyrocket. Some companies offer “accident forgiveness,” which prevents a single incident from increasing your premiums. However, if your policy doesn’t have this perk — or you’re involved in more than one accident — you can expect an insurance increase if you’re at fault (and in some states, even if you’re not at fault8).

In other words, drivers can keep affordable insurance even if they’re spending a great deal of time on the road. That process starts with comparing quotes from reputable insurance providers