Average Miles Driven Per Year

What to Know

• The nation’s average mileage per year is 13,500 miles
• Males average more miles per year than females
• There are high-mileage car leases and low-mileage discounts

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Did you know the best car insurance companies charge rates based on the average miles driven per year? Average annual car mileage can determine how expensive or how cheap your car insurance rates can be. Continue reading to learn how you can save money by driving your car less.

The average mileage per year in the U.S. is 13,500 miles, which means drivers tally approximately 1,125 average miles driven per month.

See how average miles driven per year affects your car insurance quote with our free comparison tool. Enter your ZIP code above to get a car insurance quote right now to get the best average annual mileage car insurance for you. Find the best car insurance company for you now.

What are the average miles driven per year in the U.S.?

What is the average mileage per year recorded by drivers in the US? While the short answer is roughly 13,500 miles, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration, knowing the average mileage in a year can help you understand your driving habits and behavior compared to other drivers on the road.

Overall, from coast to coast across the United States, the average yearly car mileage is just over 16,550 miles for males and 10,140 miles for females. This average yearly mileage equates to almost 1,400 miles for male drivers per month and 850 miles for female drivers per month.

This increased mileage means that there is a likelihood of more auto accidents and higher driving costs worldwide, including more expensive car insurance rates.

Wondering about average yearly car mileage in the U.S.?

Some U.S. driving statistics worth noting:

1. Most states are seeing motorists drive more miles each year: With nearly 70% of states recording an increase in mileage, operating trends indicate a continued reliance on vehicles for transportation.
2. Car insurance rates for men are higher than women: Since males log more miles per year than females, resulting in a higher likelihood of being involved in an accident, car insurance companies tend to make men pay more for coverage.
3. Fewer teens are getting driver’s licenses: Whether it’s because the middle class is shrinking or parents are discouraging their kids from driving at a young age, there are fewer teens with drivers’ licenses than previous generations.
4. Senior drivers are staying on the road longer than before: Motorists over the age of 65 are keeping their licenses and driving more miles than historical trends would estimate.

Nevertheless, there are several different ways to save money and get the cheapest car insurance.

While rates depend on your age, gender, state of residence, and other factors that affect car insurance rates, consumers should compare quotes, coverage, and providers online once a year to make sure they are paying the lowest rates.

What do average miles driven per year reveal?

As driver, your average miles driven per year can let you know how much you are on the road in the state. Also, it will signal the price of car insurance. If you live in an area that demands a lot of commuting by car, and raises your normal miles drive per year compared to other drivers in your area, expect to pay higher than average car insurance rates.

With the large number of miles driven each year, comes more traffic fatalities. It’s estimated that in 2018 alone, 36,750 people were killed in traffic-related fatalities. More cars and more inexperienced or distracted drivers equal higher fatality rates.

What are the average miles driven per year by state?

Here’s a breakdown of the average miles driven per year by state. For example, you’ll notice that the average miles driven per year in California are about 14,435, which is roughly the average for the United States.

Surprisingly, drivers in large states like California, Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, Colorado, and Washington put fewer miles on their vehicles than other places, and have lower average yearly miles.

What are the states with the highest average miles driven per year?

Let’s break down the list of states to the top three states with the highest miles traveled within a year.

Georgia is home to one of the most popular metropolitan areas in the United States. However, rural areas and some suburban areas demand a lot of travel.

Wyoming and Oklahoma are states known for their rural communities and the number of miles traveled per year. Even Georgia has its share of rural communities around the state. Let’s move on to the states with the lowest average miles per year.

What are the states with the lowest average miles driven per year?

We know about the states with the highest average miles per year. What about the states with the lowest average miles per year? Let’s review the top three states with the lowest miles driven per year.

These states are known for their major cities and public transit. California, Florida, and New York have more urban areas than rural areas. The majority of residents in

Find out how much car insurance costs in your area. Enter your ZIP code in the free comparison tool to get a quote.

Funny thing, different age groups drive different amounts per year.

What are the average annual miles driven by age group?

Here is a breakdown of the average car mileage by age group. Based on federal data provided by the FHWA, men and women ages 35 to 45 drive more miles than any of the other age groups.

However, drivers over 50 years old comprised 44% of total licensed drivers. Here is how the FHWA study data breaks down in terms of the typical annual car mileage by age (as of 2018):

• Drivers ages 16 to 19 years old travel 7,624 miles per year.
• The average miles driven by motorists from 20 to 34 are 15,098 miles per year.
• Age 35 to 45 – 15,291 miles per year
• Age 55 to 64 – 11,972 miles per year
• Over 65 – 7,646 miles per year

Interestingly, the data also showed that teenage drivers were driving less, and up until 2019, there were fewer young drivers on today’s roads than at any other time in U.S. history.

One of the primary reasons for this could be that fewer teenagers were getting their drivers’ licenses before. Another contributing factor may be that families are struggling despite the booming economy and unable to afford another car. Buying one of the cheapest used cars to insure will help struggling families.

Is there a gender gap between male and female drivers and average miles driven per year?

Yes. Statistically, men drive more miles than women. Car insurance companies consider this fact when you’re getting a car insurance quote. However, women pay more for auto insurance as a percentage of income. Continue to the next subsection to see the breakdown of statistics.

It’s also important to note that more young drivers below the age of 18 are getting their driver’s licenses.

Which gender and age group drives the highest and lowest average miles per year?

We took another look at the FHWA statistics so that we can show you the highest and lowest average miles driven per year.

Men in the United States, age 35 to 54, drive 18,858 miles per year — which is the highest average recorded. The lowest average miles per year goes to 65-year-old women who traveled approximately 4,800 miles per year.

How many registered vehicles are on the road?

Each year there are more and more cars on the road in the U.S.

There are 190,625,023 licensed drivers in the United States. However, there are more vehicles on the road. Let’s look at the total number of registered vehicles by state.

Search for your state by typing in the abbreviation for your state located in the upper right-hand corner of the table. As you can see, there are millions of vehicles registered in the United States. The total number of registered cars is 221,475,173.

Why should  I consider car mileage before buying a car?

Mileage on a vehicle will let you know the vehicle’s history. Higher mileage counts decrease the value of a car. Therefore, car insurance companies will estimate your rates based on their value and the vehicle’s history. Cars with lower mileage counts and higher values will cost more for auto insurance.

It’s also important to note that how many miles you drive per year will tell you if leasing a vehicle is right for you. Although high-mileage leases are out there, they are more expensive.

Does mileage affect getting cheap car insurance rates?

How can average mileage per year matter to auto insurance companies? The number of miles you travel per year determines your level of risk. The less time you spend driving, the more money you can save on auto insurance rates per year.

According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, you could pay up to $1,030 per year or $86 per month for car insurance.

If you want to get cheap car insurance rates, there are several strategies that you may be able to use.

Unfortunately, more driving and congestion on the road will inevitably affect insurance rates. And although driving fewer miles each year and maintaining a clean history free of accidents or tickets is the best way to keep your car insurance cost low, most families don’t have that option.

With several alternatives that could help reduce your auto insurance rates, one tactic would be to consider increasing your policy’s deductible.

Even though you are taking a chance to pay more out-of-pocket if an incident occurs, safe drivers can find significant savings.

Furthermore, if you have other insurance coverage requirements such as home, life, or renter’s insurance, you can ask your current insurer if they offer multi-policy discounts.

When a customer owns two or more insurance policies with the same company, their overall price will be reduced.

Will increasing the average annual mileage raise car insurance rates?

If you think you’ll drive over the limit you’ve agreed to from the car insurance company, it may be in your best interest to get a policy with higher annual mileage limits. This will prevent a sudden increase in your auto insurance rates.

Some companies won’t even bother raising your rates once you commit to higher mileage limits. Always ask about your miles before you make a final decision.

To make sure you aren’t paying too much for car insurance, keep up with the number of miles you drive each week. You can calculate your mileage to see how many miles you drive in a year and plan your car insurance accordingly.

How can you get a low mileage discount?

If you aren’t driving very many miles a year, you may qualify for a low mileage discount on your car insurance. The discount is typically 5% to 15%.

First, you should decide if a high-mileage lease is right for you over one with limited miles.

Drivers with low-mileage car insurance generally enjoy lower rates because driving less means you’re a lower risk. If you’re on the road less, then you’re also less likely to be involved in an auto accident.

Although the actual number of miles that qualifies as “low mileage” can differ from one company to another, the figure ranges between 5,000 and 10,000 miles per year. So, if you don’t drive any more than this, be sure to ask your agent or representative about limited mileage insurance.

There are other ways that you may be able to qualify for a low-mileage discount. For instance, if you live close to your place of employment or work from home, it is possible to ask for a discounted rate.

The same may also hold if you are in a carpool, which reduces the number of miles you drive to and work. In some cases, drivers will own or lease another vehicle.

This can end up decreasing the average number of miles driven per year on each vehicle. If you fall into this category, be sure to let your car insurance company know how much each of these vehicles is being driven on an annual basis.

Here are some states that offer huge savings for low-mileage discounts:

• California – save 22%
• Massachusetts – save 6%
• Wisconsin – 4% lower
• Pennsylvania – 3% cheaper

If you don’t drive much and live in one of these states, look into discounts for low mileage.

What’s the bottom line about average miles driven per year?

What do drivers in the United States have to say about mileage? It varies. Generally, drivers have issues with auto insurance more than mileage per year.

Because different insurance companies frequently charge very different rates, we always recommend drivers complete a comparison to make sure they are buying the best coverage at the lowest price.

If your insurance rates have been increasing every year, then it’s time to stop being a loyal customer and start shopping around.

Choose a few companies in your area, compare quotes online, and see if your current insurer is offering the best deal. Even if you don’t plan to switch providers, you can use a competing business quote to lower your rates or get additional protection added to your policy.

If you’re ready to compare car insurance quotes, enter your ZIP code in the free comparison tool below now to make sure you’re getting affordable car insurance for the mileage you drive. Before you buy car insurance, do your research.

 

Frequently Asked Questions: Average Miles Driven Per Year

This guide’s final section will cover frequently asked questions that appear on search engines across the internet. For more information, visit our main page for more articles, guides, and car insurance reviews.

#1 – Is 15,000 miles a year a lot?

Yes. That’s about 2,500 more miles than the national average. Car insurance companies may issue an expensive car insurance policy.

#2 – How many miles does the average person drive a year in 2019?

The average person drove 13,476 miles in 2019. Currently, the average miles driven per licensed driver per year is 14,425 miles. If you search 2020 and 2018, you’ll see the same FHWA stats reported the same average miles driven per year in 2020, 2019, and 2018.

#3 – Is 3,000 miles a year enough?

It depends. If your commute to work isn’t far from your residence, you’ll likely drive 3,000 miles or less. However, the average driver drives two to four times as much per year.

#4 – Can a car last 500,000 miles?

Yes. Trucks and SUVs are likely candidates for functioning over 500,000 or more miles.

#5 – Is 5,000 miles a year enough?

Car insurance rates are cheaper if you drive your car for 6,000 miles or less per policy period.

#6 – What are the average miles driven per year on a car?

The average miles driven per year on a car are 12,416 miles per year, according to FHWA.

#7 – How many average miles are driven per year for work?

The average driver travels 16 miles per day to work. That’s about 4,200 miles per year.

#8 – Where can I find the average miles per year calculator?

You can find the mileage calculators anywhere. The best place is to use our free comparison tool to calculate how much car insurance will cost for the estimated miles you’ll drive during your policy.

#9 – What are the average miles driven per year by country?

The U.K. drivers travel about 10,000 miles per year, while U.S. drivers travel 14,400 miles per year.

 

References:

1. https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/ohim/onh00/onh2p11.htm