How Many Miles Does The Average American Drive?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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The United States Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration said that the average person drove

14,263 miles per year in

2019. That's roughly 1,200 miles per month per driver or about 39 miles per day. By comparison, the DOT said the average annual miles was 13,476 in 2018.

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Is 15000 miles a year a lot?

As a general rule of thumb,

15,000 miles a year is considered an “average” number of miles per year

. … But, don't assume a car is in good condition because it has “low” or “average” miles — or that it is in bad condition if it has “high” miles.

How far does the average American drive daily?

Daily travel miles per driver – United States 2001 to 2017

On average, American drivers today are moving their vehicles considerably less than they were sixteen years ago, but they still totaled an average of

25.9 miles per day

and per driver in 2017.

How many miles does the average American travel?

Average Miles Driven per Year — Quick Overview

Americans drive

13,474 miles per year

on average. American males drive 16,550 miles per year, compared to the female average of just 10,412. 1.35 million people lost their lives and up to 50 million suffer injuries every year in road accidents worldwide.

What is bad mileage for a used car?

It can be somewhat risky to buy a vehicle that has racked up

more than 100,000 miles

. Even if it's well-maintained and has about 100,000 miles left in it, such a car is already past its prime. Generally, vehicles are likely to start experiencing problems after the 100,000-mile mark.

Can I buy a car with 250k miles?

If you can find a running vehicle (running being the operative term) with 250,000 miles or greater on the odometer, I

would suggest that anyone purchase it

. Few vehicles make it past 150,000 miles and fewer still make it to 200k without significant mechanical or electrical issues.

How many miles should I drive a day?

You should not drive for more than 9 hours a day, excluding breaks. For every 4.5 hours driving you should take breaks amounting to 45 minutes. For long-distance driving, this means you can drive

around 500 miles

safely in a day.

How many miles do most people drive in a day?

  • Motorists age 16 years and older drive, on average, 29.2 miles per day or 10,658 miles per year.
  • Women take more driving trips, but men spend 25 percent more time behind the wheel and drive 35 percent more miles than women.

Is 5000 miles a year enough?

Daily Weekly mileage Yearly mileage 11 77 5000 14 98 6000 17 119 7000 20 140 8000

How many cars drive on the road every day?

Over 76 percent of Americans drive alone to work every day, while another 9 percent carpool with someone else. Considering that ACS counted 150 million workers in 2016, that's

at least 115 million cars and trucks

hitting American streets every day.

How many miles does an average person drive in a lifetime?

According to the U.S. DoT, the average American drives 13,474 miles per year. If you started driving at 18 and stopped at (say) 70 years old – then you drove for 52 years – so you probably would drive

about 700,000 miles

in a lifetime.

What cars have the longest lifespan?

Longest-Lasting Car Brands to Reach 200,000 Miles- iSeeCars Study Rank Model % of Cars Over 200k Miles 1

Toyota

2.0%
2 Honda 1.6% 3 Chevrolet 1.5%

How many miles is the average road trip?

Depending on your route, the coast-to-coast drive across America ranges in distance from

approximately 2,500 to 3,500 miles

. If you're prepared to clock eight-plus hours behind the wheel per day, the shortest route should takes four days and the longest six.

What mileage is too high?

What is considered high-mileage? Typically, putting 12,000 to 15,000 miles on your car per year is viewed as “average.” A car

that is driven more than that

is considered high-mileage. With proper maintenance, cars can have a life expectancy of about 200,000 miles.

Is a 10-year-old car too old?

When buying a used car that's 10-years-old or older, your primary concerns are purchase price and reliability. Don't pay more than that 10-year-old car is worth. And, pick a car with a solid reputation for dependability.

No car is really too old if you

follow those rules.

Are high mileage cars bad?

Theoretically, a vehicle that has covered more miles has more wear and tear, but a car with 60,000 miles on the odometer can easily be in worse shape than one with 120,000 miles. … Overall, a high-mileage vehicle that is driven frequently and has been well

-maintained

will be a more reliable bet.

How many miles can an engine last?

Average engine lifespan

For some time, the average lifespan of a car's engine was eight years, or 150,000 miles. New designs, better technology and improved service standards in recent years have increased this average life expectancy to

about 200,000 miles

, or about 10 years.

Can I drive 10 hours in one day?

As a general rule, it's safe to drive for

no longer than eight hours a day

, taking breaks of at least 15 minutes every two hours.

What is the most reliable car brand?

Ranking Brand Score 1

Lexus

76
2 Mazda 75 3 Toyota 71 4 Infiniti 69

Is driving 10 hours hard?


Driving 10 hours a day is not difficult

. If you have another person beside you and you do most of the driving in the day then it should be easy. I have seen my father drive more than 10 hours a day at the high speeds on some trips.

What is considered low mileage on a car?

In general, anything

less than 12,000 miles per year

is considered below average. However, some insurance companies may consider 10,000 miles or less as low annual mileage. Drivers can potentially receive special discounts if they drive their cars less than what's considered average.

What percentage of people drive work?

About

86 percent of

U.S. work- ers commuted to work by automobile in 2013; 3 out of 4 commuters drove alone. At 76.6 percent of workers, driving alone to work peaked in 2010. The rate of carpooling has declined during each decade since 1980.

What is a reasonable distance to drive to work?

The pie chart above shows that the majority of people (c40% ) would be willing to travel between

21-30 miles

for their perfect role (and over 72% would travel 21 miles or more), which is encouraging for employers who want to try and find the best candidates for the job regardless of distance.

What is considered average mileage per year?

The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration states the average person drives

around 13,500 miles every year

. This is the highest average miles per year in American history. It equates to well over 1000 miles every month.

Is driving 20k miles a year a lot?

A well-maintained vehicle that is driven 20,000 miles per year on highways and in sparsely populated areas where there are fewer traffic signals and stop signs generally has led an easier life than a similar vehicle that has half as many miles but has endured the daily grind of low-speed city driving.

Which country has the most cars?


China

has the largest fleet of motor vehicles in the world in 2021, with 297 million cars, and in 2009 became the world's largest new car market as well. In 2011, a total of 80 million cars and commercial vehicles were built, led by China, with 18.4 million motor vehicles manufactured.

Is driving 300 miles a day a lot?

Driving is generally measured by hours rather than miles. Driving 300 miles at 80 mph is only 3 hours and

45 minutes

of driving where you can probably safely drive 11 hours under normal circumstances.

How many miles is across America?

Lenght of the United States is

2,800 miles wide

when measured horizontally from the eastern seaboard to the west coast (West Quoddy Head in the east to Point Arena in West) and 1,582 miles from north to south. Only Russia, Canada, and China are wider than the United States.

How long would a road trip across the US take?

Depending on which route you go on, a road trip across the USA will take

between four and six days

, assuming you're willing to spend up to eight hours behind the wheel per day.

What percentage of people in the US drive?

Here's why it is difficult to come up with a number: Although about

84.1%

of the US population is a licensed driver, the percentage of drivers around the world is closer to 16% to 17%.

How much does the average person drive per month?

According to the US Department of Transportation (DOT), men on average drive 550 miles a month more than women. The most recent DOT statistics show men of all ages driving an

average of 1,400 miles per month

, and women driving an average of 850 miles per month.

Which state drives the most?

Overall Rank State Total Score 1

Texas

62.89
2 Indiana 62.17 3 North Carolina 61.84 4 Iowa 61.82

What age group drives the most?


Men ages 34-54

drive the most — almost 19,000 annual miles. Women over age 65 drive the least — less than 5,000 miles per year. Working-age men drive about 7,500 more miles than working-age women each year. Drivers ages 16 to 19 and adults over 65 each drive an average of 7,600 miles annually.

What car brand has least problems?

  • Mazda: Mazda bested Lexus and Toyota in Consumer Reports' reliability rankings for the second year in a row. …
  • Genesis: …
  • Buick: …
  • Lexus: …
  • Porsche: …
  • Toyota: …
  • Honda: …
  • BMW:

Which engines last the longest?

  • Rolls-Royce L-Series: 1959-2020 (61 years) …
  • Rolls-Royce L-Series: 1959-2020 (61 years) …
  • Chevrolet Small Block: 1955-present (64 years) …
  • Chevrolet Small Block: 1955-present (64 years) …
  • Volkswagen Type 1: 1938-2003 (65 years) …
  • Volkswagen Type 1: 1938-2003 (65 years)

What car brand lasts longest?

  • Toyota.
  • Honda.
  • Nissan.
  • Ford.
  • GMC.
  • Chevy.
  • Subaru.
  • Lexus.

Does age or mileage matter more?

When buying a used car, it comes down to two things — the miles on the vehicle

and its age

. Newer used vehicles typically cost more than older ones, as they usually have less wear and tear. And used cars with lower mileage usually cost more than those with higher mileage.

How long should a car last?

Now, you can expect a standard car to last

around 12 years

or about 200,000 miles. More advanced vehicles like electric cars can go even longer, up to 300,000 miles. Not too long ago, you could expect a car's lifespan to be around eight years and 150,000 miles.

What is good mileage for first car?

Age – brand new cars are often unaffordable for first time car buyers so if you're buying a second hand car, make sure you check the mileage. Richard recommends looking for a car with an

average mileage of 12,000 per year or less

, with a good service history and long MOT.

David Evans
Author
David Evans
David is a seasoned automotive enthusiast. He is a graduate of Mechanical Engineering and has a passion for all things related to cars and vehicles. With his extensive knowledge of cars and other vehicles, David is an authority in the industry.