Americans spend much of their day in their vehicle — driving to and from work, dropping kids to school, shopping and visiting friends. On average, a little more than an hour a day is spent behind the wheel, according to the 2021-22 AAA American Driving Survey. Continuous driving stacks up in both time and miles driven.
A reported 94.5% of drivers age 16 or older drove occasionally in 2022, according to the report, with 2.8.trillion miles driven throughout the year. Learn more about the average miles Americans drive annually, which states rack up the most and which demographic drives the most.
- U.S. drivers covered 2.8 trillion miles in 2022, with 94.5% of drivers age 16 or older driving occasionally annually.
- Men drive more miles than women; the average male driver logs 16,550 miles a year which is 63% more than the average for women at 10,142.
- Motorists older than 65 are driving more miles and keeping their licenses longer, and drivers 75–79 years old comprise the fastest-growing age group.
- Receiving a low-mileage discount translates into savings on your policy of up to an average of 3% or higher in some states, depending on your insurer.
What is the average number of miles driven per year?
Americans are driving 13,476 miles on average, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). This is almost the equivalent of two roundtrip cross-country drives from New York to Los Angeles. The average driver racks up over 1,000 miles monthly.
But to understand driving habits nationwide, it’s important to look at who is driving, how much and where. FHWA and other federal research data underscore the following trends (note that all national data is the most recent available on these metrics):
Most states are seeing motorists drive more miles: Nearly 70% of states recorded increases in vehicle miles traveled. Oregon tops the list for the highest increase (16%) over a three-year period from 2011–2014.
Men drive more miles than women: The average male driver logs 16,550 miles a year — 63% more than the average for women at 10,142.
Fewer teens are getting licenses: From the 1980s to around 2015, the number of teens with driver’s licenses dipped significantly — from 46% to 24% — for drivers aged 16. However, a recent AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety report suggests a reversal in this trend is underway, citing an increase in teen licensure from 2012–2019.
Senior drivers are driving longer: Drivers older than 65 drive more miles and keep their licenses longer. Drivers 75–79 comprise the fastest-growing age group — and the trend is projected to continue.
Miles per capita by state show motorists driving more
The majority of states, nearly 70%, saw an increase in vehicle miles traveled (VMT) per capita from 2011–2014, according to FHWA data. VMT per capita is calculated by taking the total annual miles of vehicle traveled divided by the state’s total population. The national average for VMT per capita averaged 9,455 in 2011 and was up to 9,772 in 2014.
The uptick in driving is not spread evenly among the states. Some states are seeing a much bigger increase than others and almost a third are in decline. The mileage you drive affects your insurance rates, because the more you drive, the higher your risk of being in an accident. Therefore, car insurance rates may be generally affected by these trends.
Oregon had a 19% VMT per capita increase. Alaska and Georgia are tied for second with a 16% increase, Texas was third at 14% and West Virginia came in fourth with a 12% bump.
Several states are still in decline when it comes to VMT per capita. North Dakota shaved 16% off their VMT numbers to claim the top spot. Louisiana was second with a 10% decline with Montana and Alabama tied for third place with a 6% drop.
You’ll see in the chart below we calculated the percent change in VMT for each state, based on FHWA data:
| State | 2011 Miles Per Capita | 2014 Miles Per Capita | Change | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 13,516 | 12,713 | -803 | -6% |
| Alaska | 6,355 | 7,369 | 1,014 | 16% |
| Arizona | 9,190 | 9,701 | 511 | 6% |
| Arkansas | 11,216 | 10,912 | -304 | -3% |
| California | 8,511 | 9,053 | 542 | 6% |
| Colorado | 9,108 | 9,712 | 604 | 7% |
| Connecticut | 8,713 | 9,033 | 320 | 4% |
| D.C. | 5,774 | 6,115 | 341 | 6% |
| Delaware | 9,952 | 10,524 | 572 | 6% |
| Florida | 10,067 | 9,519 | -548 | -5% |
| Georgia | 11,050 | 12,828 | 1,778 | 16% |
| Hawaii | 7,322 | 7,055 | -267 | -4% |
| Idaho | 10,055 | 10,467 | 412 | 4% |
| Illinois | 8,022 | 8,283 | 261 | 3% |
| Indiana | 11,736 | 11,655 | -81 | -1% |
| Iowa | 10,213 | 10,059 | -154 | -2% |
| Kansas | 10,456 | 10,465 | 9 | 0% |
| Kentucky | 11,000 | 11,582 | 582 | 5% |
| Louisiana | 10,167 | 9,143 | -1,024 | -10% |
| Maine | 10,727 | 11,138 | 411 | 4% |
| Maryland | 9,646 | 9,474 | -172 | -2% |
| Massachusetts | 8,318 | 8,316 | -2 | 0% |
| Michigan | 9,594 | 9,840 | 246 | 3% |
| Minnesota | 10,606 | 10,693 | 87 | 1% |
| Mississippi | 13,044 | 12,495 | -549 | -4% |
| Missouri | 11,444 | 11,990 | 546 | 5% |
| Montana | 11,681 | 10,956 | -725 | -6% |
| Nebraska | 10,362 | 10,568 | 206 | 2% |
| Nevada | 8,882 | 8,828 | -54 | -1% |
| New Hampshire | 9,650 | 9,734 | 84 | 1% |
| New Jersey | 8,286 | 8,016 | -270 | -3% |
| New Mexico | 12,262 | 12,512 | 250 | 2% |
| New York | 6,562 | 6,801 | 239 | 4% |
| North Carolina | 10,746 | 11,120 | 374 | 3% |
| North Dakota | 13,351 | 11,241 | -2,110 | -16% |
| Ohio | 9,700 | 9,328 | -372 | -4% |
| Oklahoma | 12,519 | 12,567 | 48 | 0% |
| Oregon | 8,619 | 10,234 | 1,615 | 19% |
| Pennsylvania | 7,785 | 8,333 | 548 | 7% |
| Rhode Island | 7,515 | 7,976 | 461 | 6% |
| South Carolina | 10,414 | 11,350 | 936 | 9% |
| South Dakota | 10,924 | 11,183 | 259 | 2% |
| Tennessee | 11,049 | 11,554 | 505 | 5% |
| Texas | 9,248 | 10,554 | 1,306 | 14% |
| Utah | 9,308 | 10,120 | 812 | 9% |
| Vermont | 11,399 | 11,202 | -197 | -2% |
| Virginia | 10,001 | 10,568 | 567 | 6% |
| Washington | 8,339 | 9,048 | 709 | 9% |
| West Virginia | 10,221 | 10,643 | 422 | 4% |
| Wisconsin | 9,525 | 10,678 | 1,153 | 12% |
| Wyoming | 16,272 | 16,410 | 138 | 1% |
How many vehicle miles are driven per licensed driver?
Some states see a higher amount of traffic on their roads than others. You’ll see in the chart below how states rank for miles by driver for each state, according to the FHWA. Wyoming leads in this category with 21,821, while Alaska has the fewest miles per licensed driver at 9,915.
| State | Registered Vehicles | Total Licensed Drivers | Licensed Drivers Per 1,000 Driving Age Population | Vehicle Miles Per Licensed Driver |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AL | 3,960,149 | 3,521,444 | 1,020 | 16,054 |
| AK | 594,399 | 465,256 | 1,016 | 9,915 |
| AZ | 3,794,538 | 3,433,995 | 879 | 14,493 |
| AR | 1,840,193 | 1,947,867 | 940 | 14,974 |
| CA | 27,697,923 | 21,243,939 | 830 | 14,435 |
| CO | 3,626,012 | 3,107,258 | 935 | 13,443 |
| CT | 2,853,449 | 2,652,593 | 1,001 | 11,595 |
| DE | 630,446 | 556,688 | 913 | 14,802 |
| DC | 242,081 | 348,216 | 742 | 10,045 |
| FL | 11,781,010 | 12,853,428 | 1,009 | 11,836 |
| GA | 7,155,006 | 5,550,176 | 888 | 18,920 |
| HI | 737,551 | 769,383 | 811 | 11,104 |
| ID | 1,177,700 | 883,546 | 912 | 15,318 |
| IL | 8,972,584 | 7,961,046 | 835 | 12,921 |
| IN | 5,570,942 | 3,976,241 | 849 | 17,821 |
| IA | 3,106,223 | 1,952,508 | 856 | 15,074 |
| KS | 2,296,135 | 1,908,117 | 927 | 14,742 |
| KY | 2,826,403 | 2,694,469 | 852 | 17,370 |
| LA | 3,556,982 | 2,759,120 | 813 | 14,805 |
| ME | 1,024,096 | 920,235 | 911 | 15,420 |
| MD | 3,847,538 | 3,382,451 | 828 | 14,834 |
| MA | 5,265,399 | 4,489,695 | 897 | 11,759 |
| MI | 8,435,721 | 6,925,246 | 908 | 14,121 |
| MN | 4,629,940 | 2,940,789 | 777 | 17,887 |
| MS | 2,289,411 | 2,007,746 | 930 | 17,699 |
| MO | 4,579,629 | 3,856,271 | 898 | 17,396 |
| MT | 1,026,226 | 678,899 | 968 | 14,556 |
| NE | 1,618,933 | 1,195,219 | 909 | 15,128 |
| NV | 1,219,725 | 1,370,643 | 891 | 12,869 |
| NH | 1,051,751 | 929,630 | 967 | 12,931 |
| NJ | 6,390,031 | 5,654,973 | 864 | 11,927 |
| NM | 1,528,510 | 1,239,043 | 904 | 18,369 |
| NY | 10,234,531 | 10,871,344 | 735 | 11,871 |
| NC | 6,222,503 | 5,690,494 | 905 | 15,729 |
| ND | 693,860 | 458,944 | 914 | 15,725 |
| OH | 10,467,476 | 8,205,524 | 934 | 12,906 |
| OK | 3,014,491 | 2,295,036 | 861 | 18,891 |
| OR | 3,021,574 | 2,495,059 | 933 | 14,032 |
| PA | 9,259,967 | 8,229,490 | 849 | 12,435 |
| RI | 759,570 | 654,035 | 791 | 12,781 |
| SC | 3,094,729 | 2,842,553 | 913 | 16,020 |
| SD | 792,509 | 543,817 | 942 | 15,505 |
| TN | 4,819,799 | 4,251,228 | 956 | 15,462 |
| TX | 14,070,096 | 13,462,023 | 862 | 16,347 |
| UT | 1,627,606 | 1,463,366 | 915 | 15,442 |
| VT | 514,883 | 506,085 | 1,057 | 13,458 |
| VA | 6,046,127 | 4,836,993 | 875 | 15,464 |
| WA | 5,115,866 | 4,154,501 | 912 | 12,837 |
| WV | 1,441,735 | 1,347,207 | 926 | 14,283 |
| WI | 4,365,525 | 3,770,453 | 907 | 15,188 |
| WY | 585,690 | 370,740 | 971 | 21,821 |
| All of U.S. | 221,475,173 | 190,625,023 | 878 | 14,425 |
Average annual miles driven by age group
- Age 16 to 19: $7,624
- Age 20 to 34: $15,098
- Age 35 to 45: $15,291
- Age 55 to 64: $11,972
- Over age 65: $7,646
See the breakdown by gender in the table below.
| Age | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16-19 | $8,206 | $6,873 | $7,624 |
| 20-34 | $17,976 | $12,004 | $15,098 |
| 35-54 | $18,858 | $11,464 | $15,291 |
| 55-64 | $15,859 | $7,780 | $11,972 |
| 65+ | $10,304 | $4,785 | $7,646 |
| Average | $16,550 | $10,142 | $13,476 |
While middle-aged drivers log the most miles, it’s interesting to note senior motorists have been driving a lot more since 1990. The trend is expected to continue until 2040, according to the U.S. Energy Information Agency (EIA).
Drivers 75–79 comprise the fastest-growing sector of motorists, reports the FHWA.
Data from the FHWA show:
- Drivers 65 years or older made up a record-high 221.7 million licensed drivers on the road — almost one in five — in the U.S. in 2016.
- Drivers aged 75–79 are the fastest-growing demographic group, increasing by 4.98% from 2016.
- 57 million drivers between the ages of 20–34 made up nearly one in four U.S. drivers in 2016, up slightly from 56.1 million in 2015.
On the other hand, teens increased slightly to 8.8 million drivers — the highest number since 2013 — but fewer were getting licenses up to about 2015, federal data show.
How to get a low-mileage discount for driving fewer miles
Any discount you get for low mileage depends largely on your insurance company.
The average low-mileage discount nationwide translates into savings of 3-9%, depending on your insurer. However, in some states, it can be higher. In California, for example, the average low mileage discount is 9% because mileage is chief among the factors insurers use to set rates.
Some companies may require verification of your mileage. That could come from several sources: a form you fill out; a photo you take and mail in; or service and emissions records.
If you’re an infrequent driver with fewer miles put on your car annually, pay-as-you-drive insurance might save you even more.
Insurers such as Progressive send you a device that plugs into your car and reports odometer readings and driving habits, then calculate a discount that can reach 40% in some rare cases.
Guide to car insurance discounts in 2024
More accidents mean higher car insurance rates
More traffic almost always equals more accidents. Unfortunately, an increasing number of accidents will eventually affect insurance rates.
“Insurers utilize a number of factors when calculating a premium; one of those would be loss data for a given geographical area, usually a ZIP code. A high rate of traffic collisions will result in a higher premium for that area. While a single-year spike in accident activity will not have an immediate impact on insurance rates, if the trend continues, your insurance premium will be headed up,” says Kris Kristofer Kirchen, president of Advanced Insurance Managers, a property and casualty insurance company in Tampa, Florida.
That means that even with a clean driving record and discounts, the cost of your car insurance may go up. Rates for the same coverage vary significantly among insurers because they each use their own formula to calculate what you pay.
You can save hundreds of dollars by switching to a company offering a lower rate. In addition to seeing if you qualify for a low-mileage discount, compare pricing by using our average car insurance rates tool to see what you can expect to pay in your neighborhood.
Sources
- AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. “American driving survey: 2022.” Accessed July 2024.
- U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration. “Older drivers set record for second year.” Accessed July 2024.
- U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration. “Average Annual Miles per Driver by Age Group.” Accessed July 2024.
- AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. “2021-22 AAA American Driving Survey” Accessed July 2024
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